BRISBANE HEAD OFFICE

Address:
Postal Address:
26 Love Street, Bulimba, Q 4171
PO Box 674, Bulimba Q 4171
TORRES
PILOTS
Director: Perry Sutton
Email: operations@torrespilots.com.au
Telephone: +61 7 3217 9544 (24 hours)
Fax: +61 7 3217 9722

Torres Pilots Pty Ltd ABN 71 053 843 646

PILOT BASE—THURSDAY ISLAND
(Torres Strait & Great North East Channel)

Address: 65 Waiben Esp Thursday Island Q 4875

Postal Address: PO Box 622, Thursday Island Q 4875
Email: tioperations@torrespilots.com.au
Telephone: +61 7 4069 2251 (24 hours)
Fax: +61 7 4069 2252
VHF: 79 and 16 ‘Torres Pilots’

PILOT BASE—CAIRNS
(Inner Route)

Address: Lot 9 / 36 Buchan Street, Portsmith,

Cairns Q 4870
Postal Address: PO Box 7221, Cairns Q 4870
Email: cairnsoperations@torrespilots.com.au
Telephone/Fax: +61 7 4035 5278
VHF: 79 and 16 ‘Torres Pilots’

PILOT BASE—MACKAY
(Hydrographers Passage)

Operators: Flyon Pty Ltd

Email: operations@flyon.com.au MARINE PILOTS
Telephone: +61 0 437 279 861
VHF: 16 and 9 ‘Torres Pilots’ for
Torres Strait,
Inner Route of Great Barrier Reef
Further details on the enclosed and other related Great Barrier Great North East Channel and
Reef shipping information may be obtained from our website:
http://www.torrespilots.com.au
Hydrographers Passage
(Licensed by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority)

Date of issue 2020

 TORRES PILOTS
www.torrespilots.com.au
SAFETY
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)
introduced on 1 January 2001 a Great Barrier Reef
Pilotage Safety Management Code (PSMC).
Torres Pilots Pty Ltd have been audited and is an
AMSA licenced pilotage providor.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Torres Pilots Pty Ltd has attained AS/NZ ISO 9001:2015
Quality Assurance certification and has complied with the
rigorous standards set by the internationally recognised
Maritime certification society Det Norske Veritas (DNV).
Thursday Island
Torres Pilots Pty Ltd 1 Torres Pilots Pty Ltd
CONTENTS
Safety ............................................................................... 1
Quality Assurance ............................................................ 1
Contents ........................................................................... 2
Compulsory Pilotage ........................................................ 3
Designated Pilot Boarding Grounds (PBG)...................... 4
Pilotage Ordering Procedures .......................................... 5
Subsequent Communications .......................................... 5
VHF Radio—Working Channels....................................... 6
REEFVTS ......................................................................... 7
REEFVTS Reporting Chartlet .......................................... 8
Torres Strait and Great North East Channel Chartlet ...... 9
Hydrographers Passage Chartlet ................................... 11
Draft Restrictions ............................................................ 13
UKCM ……………………………………………………… 14
Voyage Planning ............................................................ 14
Carriage of Paper Charts ............................................... 15
Coastal Distances—Table.............................................. 16
Sundry Distances—Booby Island................................... 17
Sundry Distances—New Zealand Ports ......................... 17
Sundry Distances—Australian Ports .............................. 18
Sundry Distances—Hay Point ........................................ 18
Contacts ......................................................................... 19
2
 COMPULSORY PILOTAGE DESIGNATED PILOT BOARDING GROUNDS
(PBG)
INNER ROUTE
TORRES STRAIT
The Australian Commonwealth Government has legislated West of Booby Island (1) Lat 10°36’S
an amendment to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act Long 141°50’E
1975 which became law on 1 October 1991. This requires West of Goods Island (1) Lat 10°34’S
all vessels of 70 metres or more in overall length and all Long 142°04’E
loaded oil tankers, chemical tankers and liquefied gas carri-
ers regardless of length, to carry a Pilot, licensed under GREAT NORTH EAST CHANNEL
Commonwealth, State or Territory law, when taking pas- 5nm South of Dalrymple Island (1) Lat 9°34’S
sage through the inner route of the Great Barrier Reef Long 143°24.5’E
(GBR) between Cape York (latitude 10°41’S) and the vicini-
ty of Cairns Roads (latitude 16°40’S) or when transiting HYDROGRAPHERS PASSAGE
Hydrographers Passage (latitude 19°43’S). Off Blossom Bank (2) Lat 19°43’S
Long 150°26’E
TORRES STRAIT & GREAT NORTH EAST CHANNEL
CAIRNS
The IMO has adopted the designation of Torres Strait Cairns Fairway Buoy (1,3) Lat 16°47’S
as an extension of the GBR and defines the ‘Particularly Long 145°53’E
Sensitive Sea Area’ to include the Great North East Channel
(GNEC). On 6 October 2006 the Australian Government Note: 1. Board by Launch
introduced compulsory pilotage for the Torres Strait and 2. Board by Land-on Helicopter only
GNEC to Dalrymple Island (latitude 9°34’S). 3. Board by Land-on Helicopter by arrangement
Pilotage is compulsory for all vessels more than 70 metres
and all loaded oil, gas or chemical tankers through the
Torres Strait.

Marine Notice 10/2015 requires vessels with a draft of 8.0

metres or more to engage a pilot to/from Booby Island PBG
(latitude 10°36’S).

HYDROGRAPHERS PASSAGE

Refer to above.

Hay Point

Torres Pilots Pty Ltd 3 Torres Pilots Pty Ltd 4

 .
PILOTAGE ORDERING PROCEDURES VHF RADIO—WORKING CHANNELS

Please give four (4) days notice to Torres Pilots Brisbane Call Sign = TORRES PILOTS
Office by:- Please call ‘TORRES PILOTS’
 Email: operations@torrespilots.com.au  2 hours before arrival at PBG if by launch
 Fax: +61 7 3217 9722
Call Sign = TORRES PILOTS
Please advise following details:-
Dalrymple Island (GNEC) 79 and 16
 Pilot boarding ground
 Time / Date pilot required (LT = UTC + 10 hrs) Thursday Island (Torres Strait) 79 and 16
 Destination and Intended route
 Disembarkation PBG Cairns (Inner Route) 79 and 16
 Maximum transit draft
 Vessel’s operational speed
 Vessel’s IMO and call sign Please call ‘TORRES PILOTS’
 Vessel’s email, Sat C or fax numbers  30 minutes before arrival at PBG if by helicopter
SUBSEQUENT COMMUNICATIONS
Hydrographers Passage 16 and 9
PILOT BOARDING TORRES STRAIT

After ordering pilot with Brisbane Operations, ETA updates at 72 /

48 / 24 / 12 / 6 hrs should be sent to Brisbane Operations and
copied to Thursday Island Pilot Base TORRES PILOTS THURS-
DAY ISLAND
 Email: tioperations@torrespilots.com.au
PILOT BOARDING CAIRNS FAIRWAY

After ordering pilot with Brisbane Operations, ETA updates at

72 / 48 / 24 / 12 / 6 hrs should be sent to Brisbane Operations and
copied to Cairns Pilot Base TORRES PILOTS CAIRNS
 Email: cairnsoperations@torrespilots.com.au
PILOT BOARDING HYDROGRAPHERS PASSAGE
(at Blossom Bank)

After ordering pilot with Brisbane Operations, ETA updates at 72 /

48 / 24 / 12 / 6 hrs should be sent to Brisbane Operations and
copied to Mackay Pilot Base TORRES PILOTS MACKAY
 Email: operations@flyon.com.au

Torres Pilots Pty Ltd 5 Torres Pilots Pty Ltd 6

 REEFVTS REEFVTS—REPORTING CHARTLET

MANDATORY SHIP REPORTING SYSTEM

Ships transiting through the Great Barrier Reef and the

Torres Strait must report to the REEFVTS. A full
summary of the reporting requirements can be found in
the ‘Great Barrier Reef & Torres Strait Vessel Traffic
Service (REEFVTS) User Manual’

A copy of this user manual can be obtained from AMSA

and Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) or from the
internet at
https://www.msq.qld.gov.au/-
/me-
dia/MSQInternet/MSQFiles/Home/shipping/REEFVTS/reef-
user-guide-2017

PRE-ENTRY REPORT

Ships must provide a Pre-Entry Report at least one (1)

hours prior to entering the REEFVTS area.

REEFVTS CONTACT DETAILS

Phone: +61 1300 721 293

Fax: +61 7 47 210 633

*courtesy of ReefVTS

Pilot launch ‘Alpha”

Torres Pilots Pty Ltd 7 Torres Pilots Pty Ltd 8

 TORRES STRAIT AND GREAT NORTH EAST CHANNEL—CHARTLET
LOCATION OF PILOT BOARDING GROUNDS

Torres Pilots Pty Ltd 9 10

 HYDROGRAPHERS PASSAGE—CHARTLET

Torres Pilots Pty Ltd 11 12

 DRAFT RESTRICTIONS DRAFT RESTRICTIONS (cont)

TORRES STRAIT HAY POINT / DALRYMPLE BAY & ABBOT POINT

The two (2) tidally restricted, and therefore controlling, The maximum draft between Central Queensland Ports and
areas for transiting Torres Strait, the Inner Route and the Hydrographers, Palm or Grafton Passages is limited only by
Great North East Channel (GNEC), are Varzin Passage the permissible draft at the loading port.
and The Prince of Wales (POW) Channel.
UKCM
Utilisation of daily tide rises enables the Service to pilot
vessels through these areas with a maximum sailing draft Torres Pilots is using AMSA-approved UKCM transit plans
not exceeding 12.5 metres for container vessels and 12.2
meters for bulk and tanker vessels. for Torres Strait using the AMSA UKCM system. The system
was developed by the world leader, OMC International. Our
Minimum under keel clearances (UKC) required are as transit plans will more accurately calculate tidal windows,
UKCs and optimize vessel speeds whilst allowing for squat,
Draft Varzin Passage POW Channel pitch, roll and met-ocean conditions (wind, tidal flow and
wave sensors) effecting deep draft vessels transiting Torres
11.9m or less 1.0m 1.0m
Strait. The UKCM system allows Torres Pilots and vessel
over 11.9m 1.0m 10% of draft operators to plan and monitor the safe and efficient passage
follows:- of deep draft vessels transiting Torres Strait. The AMSA
The 12.5 metre draft limitation applies from Booby Island UKCM system has been mandatory from 1st January, 2014.
to Cairns in the Inner Route and from Booby Island to TP Pilots will assist Masters with use of the new UKCM
Dalrymple Island in the GNEC. Vessels over 10.5 metres system.
are advised of the safe ’tidal windows’ after ordering the
pilot.
VOYAGE PLANNING
Torres Strait tide gauges are transmitted via a 24 hour
broadcast. All stations broadcast on the one frequency Standard Passage Plans (SPP), are supplied to vessels by
VHF Marine Channel 68 (156.425 MHz). The tide heights Torres Pilots operations after the Master has indicated the
are broadcast in the sequence: intended draft and ETA but prior to pilot boarding. The pilot
 Booby Island will conduct a briefing and confirm with the Master the SPP,
complete with off course limits, hazard identification, risk
 Goods Island
management and way points consistent with AMSA’s
 Turtle Head (Hammond Island)
 Ince Point (Wednesday Island)
 Nardana Patches

Further information on draft limitations and UKC may be

found in Annual Australian Notice to Mariners No.23
published by the Hydrographic Service RAN.
Pilot launch ‘John Francis’

Torres Pilots Pty Ltd 13 Torres Pilots Pty Ltd 14

 CARRIAGE OF PAPER CHARTS COASTAL DISTANCES—Moderate Draft

AMSA expects all vessels navigating in the GBR and Port Kembla
Torres Strait, which are subject to SOLAS Chapter V, and

508 105 43 32
Botany Bay
which are relying on paper charts, to carry a complete folio

478 73 11
Sydney
of fully corrected paper charts for the areas visited.

468 62
Newcastle
In particular, the correct large scale charts should be avail-
able such that pilotage is always conducted on the best

418
Point Cartwright
scale chart available. For ships operating with an ap-

700
669
660
604
198
Bundaberg
proved ECDIS system, the corresponding chart permits

747
716
707
652
244
79
and updates should be available. Gladstone

1132 1050 1015 944 939 784

1100 1019 984 915 910 753
1092 1010 975 906 906 744
1037 955 920 851 846 689
631 548 511 445 440 283
475 397 362 292 288 199
404 322 287 218 210 44
Port Alma
Vessels navigating inside compulsory pilotage area

370 289 254 185 177

Hay Point
shall carry on board the following Australian charts:

209 127 122 12

Mackay
Outer Route: Great North East Channel

205 122 121

Hydrographers
Aus 292 Aus 293 Aus 296 Aus 376 Aus 377 Passage

199
Aus 839 Aus 840 Abbot Point

279
86
Inner Route: Torres Strait to Cairns Townsville
Aus 270 Aus 281 Aus 292 Aus 700

125
68
1179

1139

414
253
675
1148

521
448
1084

246
Palm Passage
Aus 293 Aus 296 Aus 830
Aus 831 Aus 832 Aus 833

321
127
54
46
1174

1134

413
251
672
521
1143

446
1079

246
Lucinda
Aus 834 Aus 835 Aus 839

371

91
1221

1181

459
297

177
105
719
573

57
1190

493
1126

294
Mourilyan
Hydrographers Passage

425

143
1276

1236

515
353

230
159

55
774
623
546

110
1245

1181

347
Aus 821 Aus 823 Aus 824 Cairns

1240
1280

521
358

235
164

60
28
780
632
551

114
1251

1185

353
Euston Reef
Vessels intending to employ ECDIS to meet the chart
carriage requirements of the International Convention for

1351
1388

630

547
889

468

347
274
261

170
116
738

138
661

226
1360

1296

462
Cape Flattery
the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Chapter V (i.e. not car-

1730

497

381
1770

1009
1268

917

653
635
1117

847

721

550

517
1042
1739

600
1675

842
rying a full folio of paper charts) must conform to the rele- Goods Island
vant performance standards of the IMO specified in Reso-

1747

514
1787

1026

670
652
1285
1134

934

567

398
738
1059

864

534

17
1756

617
1692

859
lution A.817(19) including back-up arrangements. Booby Island

Such vessels must have loaded the official ENCs for the voyage.

Point Cartwright

Hydrographers

Palm Passage
Official ENCs are those produced by a recognised authority such

Cape Flattery
Goods Island
Port Kembla

Euston Reef
Abbot Point
Botany Bay

Bundaberg
as a national Hydrographic Office. Commercially produced ENCs

Townsville
Newcastle

Gladstone
Port Alma
Hay Point

Mourilyan
Passage

Lucinda
Mackay
Sydney
may not meet the IMO carriage requirements. Further information

Cairns
can be obtained from AMSA Marine Notice 15/2010 and its asso-
ciated information sheet. Pilots will expect Masters and mates of
ECDIS vessel (no paper charts) to demonstrate that they can
safely operate the equipment.

Torres Pilots Pty Ltd 15 Torres Pilots Pty Ltd 16

 SUNDRY DISTANCES SUNDRY DISTANCES (cont)
PILOT TO PILOT PILOT TO PILOT
Distances from Booby Island Distances from Booby Island to Australian Ports via Great North
East Channel & Outer Route
Amamapare 555 Panama (Balboa) * 8491
Jakarta 2132 Paradip 4067 Abbot Point 887 via Palm Passage

Gebe Island 1076 Port Moresby * 344 Brisbane 1445 -

Gove 334 Singapore 2506 Cairns Fairway 689 via Grafton Passage

Groote Eylandt 391 Suez 7309 Gladstone 1349 via Capricorn Passage

Hong Kong 2739 Suva * 3266 Hay Point 1015 via Palm Passage

Kaohsiung 2558 Darwin 717 Lucinda 775 via Grafton Passage

Kobe 3132 Daru 148 Mackay 1009 via Palm Passage

Manila 2192 Umuda * 195 Melbourne 2290 -

Melbourne 2273 Visakhapatnam 4075 Mourilyan 721 via Grafton Passage

Noumea * 1713 Yokohama 3226 Newcastle 1858 -

* Via Great North East Channel Port Kembla 1944 -

Sydney 1913 -
Distances from Booby Island to N.Z. Ports
Townsville 930 via Palm Passage
Auckland via Cairns Fairway 2495
Note: Distance from Booby Island to Hydrographers Passage (Blossom
via GNEC 2571 Bank PBG) via the GNEC & recommended Outer Route is 992nm.

Lyttelton via Cairns Fairway 2779

via GNEC 2933 Distances from Hay Point
Nelson via Cairns Fairway 2576 To Jomard Entrance To Rossel Island
via GNEC 2730 via Hydrographers Passage 643 Via Hydrographers Passage 675
New Plymouth via Cairns Fairway 2428
via Palm Passage 790 via Palm Passage 905
via GNEC 2582
via Grafton Passage 834 via Grafton Passage 949
Tauranga via Cairns Fairway 2573

via GNEC 2641 via Capricorn Channel 964 via Capricorn Channel 909

Wellington via Cairns Fairway 2604

via GNEC 2754

Whangarei via Cairns Fairway 2436

via GNEC 2528

Torres Pilots Pty Ltd 17 Torres Pilots Pty Ltd 18