Published on Australian Maritime Safety Authority (https://www.amsa.gov.au)
In accordance with the Navigation Act 2012, vessels over 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.
Naval vessels are excluded from the compulsory coastal pilotage requirements under the Navigation Act.
It is important to note that the master of a vessel is not relieved of responsibility for the conduct and safe navigation of the vessel whilst the vessel is under pilotage — see section 326 of the Navigation Act.
The following areas are prescribed compulsory pilotage areas under MO54:
Hydrographers Passage pilotage area means the area bounded by a line that progressively joins the following points:
Point: Latitude: Longitude:
1. 20º 39.11′S 149º 49.36′E
2. 20º 35.91′S 150º 07.36′E
3. 20º 28.31′S 150º 18.06′E
4. 20º 02.91′S 150º 03.06′E
5. 19º 54.91′S 150º 16.56′E
6. 19º 39.91′S 150º 10.56′E
7. 19º 50.91′S 150º 33.06′E
8. 20º 01.41′S 150º 25.86′E
9. 20º 06.91′S 150º 17.26′E
10. 20º 19.91′S 150º 27.06′E
11. 20º 32.91′S 150º 27.06′E
12. 20º 41.51′S 150º 11.66′E
13. 20º 54.41′S 150º 01.96′E
14. 20º 39.11′S 149º 49.36′E
Inner Route pilotage area means the waters bounded by:
Torres Strait means the waters bounded:
Great North East Channel pilotage area means the area bounded by a line that progressively joins the following points:
Point: Latitude: Longitude:
1. 10º 41.0′S 141º 50.0′E
2. 10º 28.0′S 141º 50.0′E
3. 10º 28.0S′ 142º 27.0′E
4. 10º 18.0′S 142º 48.0′E
5. 9º 48.0′S 143º 08.0′E
6. 9º 30.0′S 143º 24.0′E
7. 9º 45.0′S 143º 24.0′E
8. 10º 20.0′S 143º 00.0′E
9. 10º 41.0′S 141º 50.0′E
Whitsundays pilotage area means the area bounded by a line that begins at the northernmost point of Cape Gloucester at low water, at about latitude 20º 03.94′S, longitude 148º 27.51′E, and continues progressively:
Point: Latitude: Longitude:
1. 19º 58.02′S 148º 18.60′E
2. 19º 57.83′S 148º 18.53′E
3. 19º 58.00′S 148º 21.68′E
4. 19º 58.28′S 148º 27.05′E
5. 19º 58.37′S 148º 27.40′E
6. 19º 59.28′S 148º 33.62′E
7. 20º 00.82′S 148º 37.48′E
8. 20º 02.17′S 148º 53.07′E
9. 20º 03.58′S 148º 57.92′E
10. 20º 14.42′S 149º 10.47′E
11. 20º 15.20′S 149º 11.15′E
12. 20º 28.93′S 149º 08.03′E
13. 20º 31.20′S 149º 09.07′E
14. 20º 34.28′S 149º 10.50′E
15. 20º 33.91′S 149º 07.06′E
16. 20º 39.73′S 148º 45.82′E
Masters or vessel owners may apply to AMSA for an exemption from the pilotage requirements of the Navigation Act — see section 172. An exemption application must also be made to the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) to navigate without a licensed pilot in the Hydrographers Passage, Inner Route and Whitsundays pilotage areas.
Further information about coastal pilotage exemptions is available at AMSA’s website: Coastal pilotage exemptions (amsa.gov.au)
General information about coastal pilotage requirements can be found on the AMSA website: Under keel clearance management
Any queries regarding coastal pilotage requirements should be directed to: coastal.pilotage@amsa.gov.au