Pilot Boarding Grounds & Transfer Methods
Pilot Boarding Grounds
Torres Strait |
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| West of Booby Island (1) | Lat | 10°36’S | Long | 141°50’E |
| West of Goods Island (1) | Lat | 10°34’S | Long | 142°04’E |
Great North East Channel |
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| 5nm South of Dalrymple Island (1) | Lat | 9°34’S | Long | 143°24.5’E |
Hydrographers Passage |
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| Off Blossom Bank (2) | Lat | 19°43’S | Long | 150°26’E |
Grafton Passage |
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| Off Euston Reef (1,3) | Lat | 16°39’S | Long | 146°14’E |
Cairns |
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| Cairns Fairway Buoy (1,3) | Lat | 16°47’S | Long | 145°53’E |
| Note: | 1. Board by Launch | |
| 2. Board by Land-on Helicopter only | ||
| 3. Board by Land-on Helicopter by arrangement |
Pilotage Transfer Methods
Inner Route Pilot Launches
Torres Pilots owns and operates pilot launches stationed at both Torres Strait and Cairns. Our modern launches are the most reliable and economical vessels available for pilot transfer in the above areas.
Hydrographers Passage Helicopters
Marine Pilot transfers are exclusively provided by “land-on” helicopters when servicing vessels transiting Hydrographers Passage. Our service is unique in its capability of providing two twin engined helicopters which are required to guarantee a 24 hour 365 days per year safe and reliable operation.
Cairns Helicopters
Marine Pilot transfers by land on helicopter can also be arranged at Cairns Fairway. Helicopters are restricted to land-on operations under visual meteorological conditions.
Winch-down helicopter marine pilot transfers are not undertaken in Australia.