NEWS AND EVENTS

TORRES STRAIT & GREAT NORTH EAST CHANNEL

IMO Resolution MEPC.135(53) has adopted the designation of Torres Strait as an extension of the GBR and defines the PSSA in the Great North East Channel (GNEC) to include the area to Bramble Cay.

Pilotage is compulsory for all vessels more than 70 metres and all loaded oil, gas or chemical tankers through the Torres Strait effective from 6 October 2006.

Vessels transiting the GNEC should order their pilot at Dalrymple Island (near Bramble Cay) PBG latitude 09’34S, longitude 143’24E

Under Australian Marine Notice 08/2006 vessels with a draft in excess of 8.0M are required to engage a pilot for Torres Strait to / from the Booby Island PBG latitude 10’36S, longitude 141’50E.

Pilots are boarded by launch at the Dalrymple Island & Booby Island PBGs.

AMSA has completed the installation of navigation aids & the AHO office has published chart AUS 281 for the Fairway Channel/LADS Passage (FWC) in the compulsory section of the Inner Route (IR) of the GBR.

The FWC shortens the passage from Cairns to Booby Island (Torres Strait) by 21NM. A risk analysis conducted by DNV has found that for deep draft vessels transiting the IR the navigational risk has been reduced by about 30%.

Compulsory pilotage for Torres Strait and the Great N. Eat Channel commences of 6th October 2006.

Vessels 8m drafts or more are required to engage the pilot from Bobby Island.

PS LADS is an acronym for the Laser Airborne Depth Sounder unit which conducted initial surveys