Safety Information

Safety information for recreational boat users sailing in proximity to trading vessels.

Big Ships, small boats
Responsible boating in working ports

The ports of New South Wales such as Sydney Harbour, Port Botany and Newcastle are large commercial working harbours and popular waterways for small recreational vessels.  

Sydney’s ports alone handle over $50 billion of international and domestic trade annually reflecting a remarkable contribution to the NSW economy. There are different types of trading vessels visiting the ports such as bulk carriers, container ships, car carriers, oil tankers ferries and charter boats. These large vessels need safe unobstructed access to our ports. On any given day there can be more than a dozen trading vessel movements and hundreds of recreational boats, naval and charter vessels on the water.

Knowing your responsibilities when you are close to trading vessels is essential to being safe on the water. Understanding the channels in busy harbours and ports will allow you to take the right course of action when you are near a large vessel.

• enhance safety and awareness between recreational boats and trading vessels
• avoid accidents and protect you and your family on the water
• increase awareness of rules and regulations and safety breaches

All skippers and masters must be familiar with the Navigation (Collision) Regulations 1983 included at the end of this document. The regulations contain further information regarding your responsibilities on the water near trading vessels.

Safety tips

Before entering the harbour/port you should check the following:

• know the commercial shipping channels used by trading vessels
• listen for Harbour Control safety broadcasts on channel VHF 13 in Sydney – this ‘working channel’ may be different in other ports, so check with local authorities
• check the weather forecast for the day
• make sure your boat is suitable for the conditions
• ensure you have a lifejacket for every person onboard
• determine that your boat is equipped with a working VHF radio
• know the wind and wave limits of your boat

When you are out on busy working harbours or ports such as Sydney Harbour, Port Botany or Newcastle remember:

• that overloading is dangerous and illegal
• to check that small children and those who cannot swim, the elderly or those with a medical condition are wearing a lifejacket
• to wear your lifejacket when conditions worsen or when crossing a sandbar
• tune in to VHF channel 13 for regular updates of commercial vessel movement
• keep to a safe speed

• always keep a lookout for trading vessels
• determine if the vessel is moving towards you or away from you
• always keep a safe distance away from a large vessel
• act early so you can move away from these trading vessels and also make sure that they can clearly understand what you are doing
• always have your navigation lights on at night so other vessels can clearly see you
• familiarise yourself with the commercial shipping channels
• stay clear of the channels when trading vessels are entering or departing the ports
• be aware of areas of interaction (pressure and suction) in close vicinity of trading vessels and keep clear. The pressure zones are on the bow and at the stern, the midships area will have a tendency to draw vessels together particularly at higher speeds
• be aware of wakes of trading vessels, particularly when the large vessel is in relatively shallow water and moving at higher speeds.

 

Why can’t trading vessels move out of the way?

The ports of NSW are busy and some may have more than 5,000 large vessel movements annually.

The following applies to trading vessels when in our ports:

• they have little room to stop, turn or alter course within channels their movements will be restricted because of their size and draft.
• at times they will only be able to deviate to no more than 20 metres.
• operate within the channels and this can be unsafe and dangerous for a recreational boat can take up to two nautical miles to stop or alter its course

 

Visibility and line of sight

Visibility and line of site are important factors which play a key role in avoiding collisions on the water with trading vessels.

From your position on the water you may have a clear view of the trading vessel. You may also assume that those on the trading vessel must also have a clear view of you.

 

It is also recommended that you maintain a distance of 60 metres from vessels at berth.