Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait vessel traffic service

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) named the Great Barrier Reef as the world’s first particularly sensitive sea area (PSSA) in 1990. The IMO also named Torres Strait as a PSSA in 2005.

The Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait vessel traffic service (REEFVTS) was established by the Australian and Queensland Governments in 2004 to improve the safety and efficiency of vessel movements and to help protect the marine environment.

We operate REEFVTS under joint arrangements with Maritime Safety Queensland.

REEFVTS monitors over 11,250 vessel movements per year, and:

• enhances navigational safety by providing safety information including potential traffic conflicts
• helps reduce the risk of a maritime accident and consequential ship-sourced pollution and damage to the marine environment.

REEFVTS operations

Maritime Safety Queensland provide more information about the operation of REEFVTS including:

• Ships required to report to REEFVTS
• Mandatory reporting requirements
• Master’s responsibilities
• Types of services provided
• Statistics on shipping within the region

Map of REEFVTS area

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[1]

Related information

• IALA Bulletin 2012/3 article Evaluating the role of VTS in reducing risk—an Australian perspective [2]
• Read more about Vessel traffic services' role as the competent authority for VTS [3]