Boating safety in the Gladstone area
Gladstone harbour and the surrounding areas are great places for boating and on-water activities. Because of construction activities on Curtis Island, there is going to be an increase in commercial barges and vessels working in the area. The information on this page is to alert boaties in the Gladstone area to take care when navigating.
If there are any restricted areas and changes or hazards to navigation that affect boaties in the Gladstone area, a Notice to Mariners will be issued. You can register to receive Notices by email for Gladstone if you are likely to be affected.
Gladstone ship navigation area
Skippers of small vessels should keep clear of large ships in ship navigation areas.
In Gladstone, the master of a vessel 10 m or more in length must report to Gladstone Harbour Control (VTS) on VHF channel 13 and maintain a listening watch on that frequency when entering, leaving or moving within the Gladstone pilotage area. Sailing vessels are required to use the safe navigable waterway extending from the recommended small craft course for the South Channel and the waters to the south. After making the crossing of the shipping channel at aids to navigation G1 and G2, then proceed in a similar manner on the northern side of the recommended small craft course to travel to The Narrows or the North Channel, or until the crossing of the shipping channel towards the entrance of Auckland Inlet and the Gladstone Marina.
Chartlet showing ship navigation areas and recommended small craft courses for the port of Gladstone (PDF, 218 KB)
You can check shipping movements at QShips or the shipping schedule provided by Gladstone Ports Corporation*.
Weather
Before heading out, you should always check the weather forecast. You can check the forecast in the following ways:
- Bureau of Meteorology
- Maritime Safety Queensland’s weather service
- all of Queensland – 1300 360 426
- marine warnings – 1300 360 427.
Remember, weather can change while you are on the water so get updates of weather conditions by contacting a volunteer marine rescue organisation by marine radio.
You should always make sure you have more than enough fuel for your trip. It may take more fuel on your way back in if weather conditions deteriorate and the sea becomes choppy or you have to head to a safe anchorage to wait out a storm.
Tell someone where you are going
When you head out it is a good idea to tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. You can log on and off with a volunteer marine rescue organisation.
Keep a proper lookout
Traffic on the water doesn’t just come from one direction, it can come from anywhere. Skippers can use different methods to help them be aware of where they are going and their surroundings.
Use all available means to watch out for other vessels on the water. Your passengers can also help keep a lookout. Remember, your eyes are the best way to navigate.
Safety equipment
Make sure you have the right safety equipment for the area where you are going boating. Check safety equipment requirements (PDF, 32 KB).
Flags, day shapes and lights
There are signals, or combinations of signals, used on commercial vessels that relate to specific commercial activities like fishing, dredging, not under command, towing and diving.
These signals are in addition to the standard navigation lights indicating port-hand, starboard-hand and anchor lights. A simple rule is for vessels is to stay clear of any other vessels that are displaying warning signals in the form of flags, day shapes and lights.
For example 'R' flag over a 'Y' flag means that vessels should proceed at a slow speed that creates no wash when passing.
Small, power-driven vessels that do not display any lights other than navigation lights must keep clear of vessels restricted in their ability to manoeuvre due the nature of their work, as illustrated in the image below.
A larger version of the example of a ship limited in its ability to manoeuvre (PDF, 42 KB) is available.
There are many other lights and shapes that show different activities that a vessel may be engaged in. The image below shows the most common types.
A larger version of common types of lights and shapes (PDF, 84 KB) is available.
Port security regulated area (no public entry)
Gladstone – the waterside restricted zones* for Gladstone Ports Corporation-managed berths within the port is a distance of 60 metres from the wharves and wharf approaches, inclusive from the high water mark to the sea bed.
Commercial high speed passenger ferries
Ferries capable of speeds greater than 20 knots must display an all-round yellow light when underway or making way in Gladstone Harbour.
QGC* is supporting boating safety awareness programs in the Gladstone area.
Related links
*The content found by using this link is not created, controlled or approved by this department. No responsibility is taken for the consequences of viewing content on this site.
