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Unrestricted pilot licence

An unrestricted coastal pilot licence allows you to pilot a vessel in a pilotage area with no draught limits.

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What is an unrestricted pilot licence?

If you have an unrestricted pilot licence, you are authorised to pilot a vessel in a pilotage area with no draught limits.

We issue unrestricted licences for all pilotage areas, including:

  • Inner Route (from Cape York to Cairns)
  • Hydrographer's Passage
  • Great North East Channel
  • Whitsundays transit (Whitsunday Passage, Whitsunday Group and Lindeman Group)
  • Whitsundays anchorage.

Eligibility requirements

To be issued with an unrestricted coastal pilot licence, you must fulfil these requirements:

Number of transits and other requirements by pilotage area

Inner Route

Minimum required transits:

  • 6 transits of the inner route pilotage area with a draught limit of 11.5 m for the area
  • at least 1 transit from 6 being a check pilot assessment on a vessel with a draught of at least 11 m.
Hydrographer's Passage

Minimum required transits:

  • 20 transits of the area while holding a restricted licence
  • at least 1 transit from 20 being a check pilot assessment.
Great North East Channel

Minimum required transits:

  • 6 transits of the Torres Strait west of Alert Patches while holding a restricted licence for the area permitting piloting of vessels up to 11.5 m draught
  • at least 1 transit from 6 being a check pilot assessment on a vessel with a draught of at least 11 m
  • at least 2 transits from 6 being the full extent of the Great North East Channel pilotage area while holding a restricted licence for the area permitting piloting of vessels up to 11.5 m draught.
Whitsundays

To be issued with an unrestricted coastal pilot licence for the Whitsundays, you must hold an unrestricted coastal pilot licence for the Inner Route pilotage area or the Hydrographer's Passage pilotage area.

Minimum required transits 

To be eligible for an unrestricted licence in this area, you need to complete at least 2 transits in the Whitsundays pilotage area as an observer of the piloting of the vessel.

These must be completed in the 2-year period before you apply.

Cruise ship anchorage area

To be issued with a licence in an area permitting anchorage of passenger vessels in cruise ship anchorages, in addition to the required transits, you must: 

  • have anchored and weighed anchor on a vessel at least 500 GT at least 2 times at one or more cruise ship anchorages that are designated anchorages in the Whitsundays pilotage area within the 2-year period 
    before the application
  • have completed the coastal pilotage training course approved by AMSA for Whitsunday anchoring. 

How to apply

  1. Complete an application for a coastal pilot licence renewal form 1021 and include all supporting documentation relevant to the requirements.
  2. Pay an application fee.

How to renew

To renew your unrestricted coastal pilot licence, you must:

  • have held a pilot licence in the 2 years before application
  • have completed continuing professional development to the satisfaction of AMSA within the 2 years before applying
  • hold a Certificate of Medical Fitness
  • have completed a coastal pilot proficiency check (CPPC)
  • have completed the pilotage area transit requirements.

If your licence has expired

6-12 months before application

You must satisfactorily complete the CPPC within the 12 months before you renew.

12 months-2 years before application

Your unrestricted licence will be downgraded to a restricted licence. You must satisfactorily complete the CPPC within the 12 months before you renew.

Pilotage area transit requirements for renewals

Inner Route

You must have completed:

  • at least 8 transits within the 2-year period before applying
  • at least 4 transits in the last 12 months
  • 1 check pilot transit
  • 1 CPPC assessment.
Hydrographer's Passage

You must have completed:

  • at least 8 transits within the 2-year period before applying
  • at least 4 transits in the last 12 months
  • 1 check pilot assessment.
Great North East Channel

You must have completed:

  • at least 4 transits within the 2-year period before applying
  • at least 2 transits in the last 12 months
  • 1 check pilot assessment.
Whitsundays
Whitsundays transit licence

You must have performed pilot duties in the area within the 2 years before applying for renewal. 

Whitsundays anchorage licence

You must have performed pilot duties anchoring passenger vessels in cruise ship anchorages in the area within the 2 years before applying for renewal.

Renew now

  1. Complete an application for a coastal pilot licence/renewal (form 1021). Include all supporting documentation relevant to the requirements.
  2. Pay an application fee.

Licenced pilotage providers

Auriga Pilots

Email: contact@auriga.com.au
Phone: +61 413 878 792

Torres Pilots

Email: operations@torrespilots.com.au
Phone: +61 7 3217 9544

Strait Point Pty Ltd

Email: operations@straitpoint.com.au

Last updated: 1 September 2026

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