Steamship Mutual has reminded members of recently
published notification from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority about the
coastal pilotage requirements that apply within the Great Barrier Reef and
Torres Strait.
The alert reminds vessel masters, owners and operators
about the coastal pilotage areas, coastal pilotage area definitions and their
boundaries and on the process for any Pilotage Exemption requests.
Vessels of more than 70 metres in length, loaded oil
tankers, loaded chemical carriers, and loaded liquefied gas carriers
(irrespective of length) are required to embark a licensed coastal pilot when
transiting any of the prescribed compulsory coastal pilotage areas.
Significant penalties may apply for navigating in any of
the coastal pilotage areas without an AMSA-licensed coastal pilot onboard.
