REEFVTS
From 1 July 2011, REEFVTS (Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait Vessel Traffic Service) is being extended to the southern boundary of the Great Barrier Reef. The coverage has been extended after the bulk carrier Shen Neng 1 ran aground on Douglas Shoal in the Great Barrier Reef.
What is REEFVTS?
REEFVTS is a coastal vessel traffic service which has been put in place by the Australian and Queensland Governments to:
- Improve navigational safety in the Torres Strait and inner route of the Great Barrier Reef by providing information to shipping on potential traffic conflicts and other navigational information.
- Minimise the risk of a maritime accident and resulting ship-sourced pollution and damage to the marine environment in the Torres Strait and Great Barrier Reef region.
- Provide an ability to respond more quickly in the event of any safety or pollution incident.
REEFVTS is operated jointly by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and Maritime Safety Queensland. The system is manned 24 hours a day from Maritime Safety Queensland's REEFVTS centre in Townsville.
REEFVTS User Guide
REEFVTS User Guide (PDF, 937 KB)
Due to the file size this document has been split for easy download.
Background
In 1996 the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted Australia’s proposal for a mandatory ship reporting system (REEFREP) to improve navigational safety, reduce the risk of shipping incidents and minimise any resulting ship-sourced pollution in the Great Barrier Reef and the Torres Strait. This was established in accordance with SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) Regulation V/11. REEFREP was one of the world’s first mandatory ship reporting system and came into force on 1 January 1997.
Since then Australia has improved the delivery of services in the region through a range of measures such as Automated Position Reporting via Inmarsat C, Automatic Identification System (AIS) and the use of decision-support tools. These measures led to the introduction of REEFVTS in 2004 following IMO approval of Australia’s submission proposing amendments to REEFREP.
After the Shen Neng 1 ran aground in the Great Barrier Reef the measures for mitigating risks associated with shipping activity in the Great Barrier Reef was reassessed. In December 2010 the IMO approved Australia’s submission to extend the mandatory ship reporting requirements of REEFREP to the southern boundary of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park from 1 July 2011 .
What is the link between REEFREP and REEFVTS?
REEFREP provides REEFVTS with information about the ship, its characteristics and intended passage through the region. This information, together with the monitoring and surveillance systems used by REEFVTS, assists with the proactive monitoring of a ship’s transit through the Great Barrier Reef and the Torres Strait.
Further information on REEFVTS is available from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
