SHIPPING INFORMATION
Pilotage is compulsory for vessels over 35 meters LOA and those over 150 Gross Registered Tonnage.
COMMUNICATIONS
VHF
Call "Geraldton Harbour". Manned Monday to Friday 0800 - 1700 hours and one hour prior to arrival and departure of vessels.
Call on Channel 16 - Working Channel 11
TELEPHONE
Duty Pilot: (08) 9964 0505 (24 hours)
FAX
(08) 9964 0548
EMAIL
harbourmaster@gpa.wa.gov.au
GENERAL
CHARTS
AUS81 Approaches to Geraldton
WA939 Geraldton and Geraldton Harbour
AUS751 Houtman Abrolhos and Geeluink Channel
AUS332 Zuytdorp Point to Geraldton
PILOT BOARDING GROUND
Main Entrance (boarding ground 'Alpha') - Pilot boards in a position one mile North West of the southern Fairway Buoy which is at Latitude: 28o46'11.12S Longitude: 114o31'43.40E Channel depth 12.4 m over LAT
Northern Entrance (boarding ground 'Bravo') - Northwest Fairway Buoy: Latitude: 28o41'51S Longitude: 114o33'12E Channel depth 7 m over LAT
ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITS FOR PILOT TRANSFER
Offshore wind to be less than 30 k
Total wave conditions to be less than 3 m
Sea state to be less than 2 m by day and 1.5 m by night
SWELL WARNING
At times swells of 9 meters have been reported in the outer approaches of the Channel and vessels are not to enter until advised by Geraldton Harbour or a Pilot.
SHIPPING MOVEMENTS
Harbour Master to be advised of shipping movements as follows:-
ETA - 48 hours, 24 hours, and 6 hours before arrival.
ETD - 12 hours before; to be confirmed 4 hours before.
If stay is less than 12 hours - ETD to be advised 1 hour after arrival; to be confirmed 2 hours before departure.
Movements in Harbour - as for departures.
Charges may apply if less than 2 hours notice of changes is given.
See Berth Priority Code
ANCHORING
Arriving Vessels awaiting pilotage will be allocated an anchorage position. Masters are cautioned that in certain extreme weather conditions it may be prudent to heave up the anchor and not rely on ground tackle to keep the ship safe off a lea shore
See AMSA Anchorage Notice
TIDAL DATA
Mean higher high water - 1.1 Meters
mean sea level - 0.8 Meters
mean lower low water - 0.6 Meters
Rise & Fall - 0.8 Meters (influenced by weather conditions)
Calculation of Sunrise/Sunset times - view the following link
http://www.ga.gov.au/bin/astro/sunrisenset
NORMAL BULK CARGO VESSELS CAPABLE OF USING THE PORT
Handysize - 10,000 to 35,000 tones cargo, 100 to 182m LOA
Handymax - 35,000 to 50,000 tones cargo, 180 to 210m LOA
Panamax - 50,000 to 70,000 tones cargo, 210 to 225m LOA
Note: All vessels are subject to Port State Control records being checked. Vessels longer than 225m are subject to a specific application and are not normally accepted. See Ship Vetting Procedure
NORMAL BULK CARGO VESSELS CAPABLE OF BEING FULLY LOADED AT THE PORT - see DUKC below
All Handysize and smaller
Most Handymax
Some Panamax (load approximately 60,000 to 65,000 tones of cargo - depending on sea state, individual vessel design and configuration)
NAVIGATION AIDS
The navigation aids required at the Port are installed and fully operational for day and night time operations.
DYNAMIC UNDER KEEL CLEARANCE
Vessels with a draft exceeding 10 m will be subject to assessment of draft through the DUKC program. This system will calculate the maximum draft (up to 12.8m) dependant on tide and swell conditions. Swells exceeding 2.5 m may limit available draft. All parties are cautioned against making unrealistic commercial commitments that may prove imposable to keep in extreme weather conditions. Contracts calling for a draft of 11.6 m plus or minus 10% by cargo weight are possible in most swell conditions.
A rule of thumb that might be applied for swell over 2.5 is 11.6 m + tide – (Swell Height – 2.5m)
By way of example in 4 m of swell with a 80 cm tide, draft would be 11.6 + 0.8 – (4 – 2.5) = 10.9 m
FEDERAL AGENCIES
AUSTRALIAN QUARANTINE & INSPECTION SERVICE REQUIREMENTS (AQIS)
A “Quarantine Pre-Arrival Report For Vessels (Pratique)” form is to be provided to AQIS no more than 48 hours and no less than 12 hours prior to the vessel’s arrival in Australia - (AQIS – Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service).
Link to AQIS documentation (eg Ballast Water).
AUSTRALIAN CUSTOMS SERVICE REQUIREMENTS (ACS)
BOARDING
The Australian Customs Service requires all overseas vessels to provide full details of the vessel, crew, passengers, animals and cargo at least 96 hours prior to arrival.
Non compliance can result in a penalty under section 64 of the Customs Act. Customs will normally attend a vessel after berthing, however, this is at the discretion of the District Manager. The definition of “overseas vessels” includes small craft as well as private and commercial vessels.
REQUESTS FOR ATTENDANCE
In the case of commercial vessels, all contact should be through the shipping agent in the first instance. Small craft and private vessels should contact the District Manager directly.
CUSTOMS HOUSE
Street Address: 7 Francis Street, Geraldton (across the road from the Geraldton Port Authority)
Postal Address: PO Box 169, Geraldton WA 6531
Telephone: +61 8 9965 7200
Facsimile: +61 8 9965 7250
CUSTOMS WATCH
When reporting any unusual sighting that may be of interest to Customs, please call the 24 hour Customs Watch free phone on 1800 06 1800.
IMMIGRATION
For information regarding overseas passengers and crew complying with Australian immigration legislation,
http://www.immi.gov.au/immigration/
