Coastal pilotage exemptions

The master (or owner) of a vessel may apply for an exemption from the requirement to navigate a vessel with a licensed pilot in a compulsory pilotage area.

It is important to note that the Act and the GBRMP Act requirements relating to pilotage are discrete.  For this reason, where an exemption is sought for operations exclusively in Torres Strait and/or the GNEC pilotage area, a pilotage exemption is required from AMSA (only), however where an exemption is sought in relation to pilotage areas which are the subject of both Acts (i.e. the Inner Route, Hydrographers Passage and the Whitsundays), separate exemption applications must be made to AMSA and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), in accordance with the corresponding Act.

An exemption granted by one agency under one Act does not equate to an exemption being granted by the other agency, in accordance with the corresponding Act.

To apply for a pilotage exemption, the master (or owner) of a vessel must provide certain information to AMSA, and/or GBRMPA (depending on the pilotage area for which the exemption is sought).

The information required is described below.

AMSA assesses exemption applications for the purposes of s172 of the Act. GBRMPA assesses exemption applications for the purposes of s59F of the GBRMP Act.

Applications for pilotage exemptions under the Navigation Act should be addressed to AMSA as follows:

Principal Advisor - Coastal Pilotage 

Operations Division

Australian Maritime Safety Authority

GPO Box 10790 Adelaide Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000

Email: coastal.pilotage@amsa.gov.au [2]

Applications to AMSA must be in writing and must include the 'Prescribed Information' per s82 of MO54 (see Attachment B). The prescribed information is a requirement of s172 of the Act.

Applications for pilotage exemption under the GBRMP Act for vessels that intend to operate in the Inner Route, Hydrographers Passage and the Whitsundays pilotage areas should, in addition to the application to AMSA, be addressed to GBRMPA as follows:

Manager - Assessment and Permissions

Environmental Assessment and Protection

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

PO Box 1379 Townsville QLD 4810

Email: assessments@gbrmpa.gov.au [3]

Applications to GBRMPA must be in writing and must contain the 'Prescribed Information' per s119 of the GBRMP Regulations (see Attachment C). The prescribed information is a requirement of s59F of the GBRMP Act.

It is incumbent on the applicant to ensure sufficient detail is provided to facilitate the assessment process. To assist AMSA and/or GBRMPA assess an application, applicants may wish to include additional information such as:

• the proposed duration and/or purpose of the vessel’s stay within the compulsory pilotage area(s)
• whether the vessel will be predominantly underway in the pilotage area(s), or remain at anchor
• any relevant photos of the vessel, vessel design drawings, certification, survey information or documentation etc.

The provision of any additional information is not mandatory. Not providing such information will not necessarily invalidate an application for exemption.

AMSA and/or GBRMPA assess the information provided by an applicant in accordance with the corresponding legislative provisions.

A typical assessment will consider all relevant factors, for example:

• A technical assessment of the vessel, taking into account the navigational safety aspects of the proposal, including the suitability of navigational equipment and aids carried onboard
• A qualifications and experience assessment, taking into account the suitability of qualifications and experience of the master and navigational watch-keepers listed as serving crew members
• An environmental assessment, taking into account the environmental risks associated with the exemption proposal and the environmental history of the applicant.

As part of the qualifications and experience assessment, applicants are required to provide information about the qualifications of the master and navigational watch-keepers and details of recent navigational experience in the compulsory pilotage area(s).

As a general rule, and subject to its discretion, AMSA considers that a minimum of four (4) passages for watch-keepers and a minimum of six (6) passages for master (in the pilotage area for which the exemption is sought) to be satisfactory. These passages can be conducted as master, navigational watch-keeper, observer or understudy on vessels not requiring an exemption. For currency purposes, voyages should have been conducted within the last two (2) years prior to the application.

If the information provided in the application is insufficient to enable a decision to be made, the applicant may be requested to provide further information. The type and extent of additional information required will be specified in writing (usually via email). Requests for additional information may delay processing the application. Upon completion of all aspects of the assessment, recommendations will be provided to the relevant delegate (in AMSA and/or GBRMPA) as to whether the applicant should be granted a pilotage exemption (or otherwise) and a decision will be made accordingly.

The applicant with then be notified of the decision in writing. If the application is successful, an Instrument of Exemption (in the form of a certificate) will be provided. The instrument will:

• Specify the vessel for which the exemption has been granted
• Specify the compulsory pilotage area(s) for which the exemption has been granted
• List any conditions associated with the exemption.

AMSA charges administrative fees associated with processing pilotage exemption applications in accordance with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Fees Determination 2015. For further information see AMSA’s fees and charges [4]. 

GBRMPA currently charge an assessment fee which must accompany an application for pilotage exemption made under the GBRMP Act. This fee is subject to change and applicants should verify the amount payable directly with GBRMPA as required.

If an exemption expires or ceases to be valid, the vessel will not be able to legally navigate in the pilotage area(s) without an AMSA-licensed pilot onboard. If an applicant intends to continue to operate a vessel in a compulsory pilotage area, a new exemption application should be submitted (to AMSA and/or or GBRMPA), such that the application(s) can be assessed before an existing pilotage exemption expires. Pilotage exemption holders should note that the onus is on the applicant to ensure a new application is submitted at least eight (8) weeks before any stipulated expiry date, to enable assessment and processing prior to the expiry of the current exemption(s).

The master or owner of a vessel may be exposed to criminal or civil penalties of up to $5,400,000^# (in the case of a body corporate) if a vessel navigates in a compulsory pilotage area, without a licensed pilot, where no exemption has been granted.

Similarly, the master or owner of a vessel may be exposed to criminal or civil penalties of up to $540,000 in relation to contraventions of conditions of exemptions which are granted.

^#At present, one penalty unit equates to $180 (AUD). This amount is subject to change, including indexation.

An application may be made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of a decision to refuse to grant an exemption or to impose a condition on an exemption.

For more information, please contact:

AMSA: 

Email: coastal.pilotage@amsa.gov.au [2]
Phone: (07) 3001 6806 (Principal Advisor - Coastal Pilotage)
Fax: (07) 3001 6801

GBRMPA:

Email: assessments@gbrmpa.gov.au [3] 
Phone: (07) 4750 0700
Fax: (07) 4772 6093

Download map as a printable file (PDF 94 KB) [5]

[6]

For paragraph 172(2)(b) of the Navigation Act 2012, the following information is prescribed in accordance with MO54:

(a) the name of the compulsory pilotage area for which the exemption is proposed;

(b) the name and address of the applicant; 

(c) the name and address of the owner; 

(d) vessel name, IMO number and flag;

(e) vessel type (bulk carrier, general cargo vessel, oil tanker, chemical carrier, liquefied gas carrier and others);

(f) principal dimensions (length overall, breadth extreme, maximum depth, maximum draught etc.);

(g) loaded draught during navigation in the compulsory pilotage area;

(h) hull material;

(i) the vessel’s general arrangement and tank capacity plans;

(j) details of navigational and communication equipment;

(k) name of the master and navigational watch-keepers who will be on watch at any time during which the vessel is in a compulsory pilotage area;

(l) qualifications of the master and navigational watch-keepers and details of his or her recent navigational experience in the compulsory pilotage area;

(m) details of the bunkers that the vessel is to carry during the vessel’s navigation in the compulsory pilotage area;

(n) details of cargo that the vessel is to carry during the vessel’s navigation in the compulsory pilotage area;

(o) details of ballast that the vessel is to carry during the vessel’s navigation of the compulsory pilotage area;

(p) details of any previous incident, marine incident or prescribed incident* involving the vessel or the master of the vessel.

*Prescribed incident has the same meaning as in the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983.

For section 59(F)(2)(b) of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975, the following information is prescribed in accordance with section 119 of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983:

(a) the name and address of the applicant;

(b) identification of the subject regulated ship by registered name, registered callsign and country of registration;

(c) description of the ship by type, maximum length, maximum width, maximum draft and maximum displacement;

(d) the proposed maximum draft of the ship during navigation in the compulsory pilotage area; 

(e) details of:

1. the design of the ship; and
2. the material of which the hull is constructed;

(f) details of:

1. the geographic area of the compulsory pilotage area in which the ship will be navigated; and
2. the purpose of the navigation;

(g) details of the intended operations of the ship that are of relevance to the application and the schedule for those operations;

(h) details of operational navigational equipment with which the ship is fitted;

(i) in respect of the persons who will be the master, and the navigational watchkeepers, of the ship at any time when it is in the compulsory pilotage area, details of:

1. their maritime qualifications; and
2. their recent navigational experience in the compulsory pilotage area;

(j) details of:

1. the maximum quantity of oil+ the ship is capable of carrying; and
2. the types, quantities and location in the ship of oil intended to be carried in the compulsory pilotage area;

(k) details of cargo on the ship, including, if hazardous goods^ are carried, the types and quantities of the hazardous goods.

^Hazardous goods means dangerous goods within the meaning of section 248 of the Navigation Act 1912 and noxious liquid substances within the meaning of Part III of the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983.

+Oil means an oil or an oily mixture within the meaning of Part II of the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983.