Gladstone Port Procedures and Information for Shipping

Gladstone is situated just south of the Tropic of Capricorn, approximately 520km north of Brisbane, and is the principal port in central Queensland. It services a large area that is rich in natural resources, particularly coal. The principal cargoes that are discharged are petroleum products, caustic soda and bauxite, which is refined and re-exported as alumina. Exports include coal, cement clinker, wheat, alumina and aluminium.

Gladstone shipping manual

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• Table of contents 
  • List of tables
  • Table of amendments
• Section 1 – Introduction  
  • General
  • Port description
  • Purpose
  • Datum
  • Definitions
  • Contact information
  • Regulations
• Section 2 – Arrival and departure procedures   
  • General
  • Arrival check list
  • Departure check list
  • Customs (Border Force)
  • Quarantine
  • AMSA
  • Arrival/departure report
  • Dangerous goods
  • REEFVTS
  • Security
• Section 3 – Movement and traffic procedures 
  • Port control centre – vessel traffic service (VTS)
  • Harbour contact details
  • Prior notification of movements
  • QSHIPS (Qld shipping information planning system)
  • Booking a vessel movement
  • Reporting defects
  • Booking a vessel removal
  • Tug and tow — requirements
  • Movement scheduling
  • Prioritising of ship movements
  • Pilotage delays and cancellations
  • Movement clearance information
  • Anchoring
  • Reporting requirements
  • Reporting requirements – small vessels
  • Marine construction activity
• Section 4 – Port description 
  • Pilotage area
  • Load lines
  • Maximum vessel size
  • Time zone
  • Working hours
  • Charts and books
  • Shipping announcements
• Section 5 – Port infrastructure 
  • Gladstone berth information
  • Shore-based cranes, gantries, portainers and bulk loaders – guidelines
  • Anchorage areas
  • Navigation aids and leading lights
  • Buoys and beacons within Gladstone Harbour and approaches
• Section 6 – Weather information 
  • Tidal information
  • Water density
• Section 7 – Port navigation and movement restrictions 
  • General
  • Speed
  • Trim requirements
  • Draught restrictions
  • Approaches to pilot boarding ground
  • Transit from fairway to berth
  • Passing restrictions
  • Distances from fairway beacon to Targinie Channel
  • Weather restrictions
  • Nuclear powered ships
  • Advisory note – interaction with marine mammals
• Section 8 – Pilotage 
  • Vessels that require a pilot
  • Pilotage area
  • Night pilotage
  • Request for pilot
  • Pilot boarding positions A, B, C, D and LNG
  • Pilot boarding arrangements
  • Requirements for the issue of pilotage exemption for the ports of Gladstone, Bundaberg and Port Alma
  • Passage planning – bridge resource management (BRM)
  • Master/pilot responsibilities
  • Pilotage requirements for Torres Strait and Great Barrier Reef (GBR)
• Section 9 – Tug procedures 
  • General
  • Lines launches
• Section 10 – Work permits 
  • General
  • Work permits
• Section 11 – Dangerous cargo   
  • General
• Section 12 – Emergency, pollution, marine incidents 
  • Emergency contact numbers
  • Authorities
  • Fire
  • Marine pollution
  • Marine incidents
• Section 13 – Security 
  • General
  • Security measures
  • Port security contacts
  • National security
• Section 14 – Port state control inspections 
• Section 15 – Port services 
  • Bunkering
  • Fresh water
  • Waste
  • Electric power
  • Shipping agencies
  • The Missions to Seamen (Port Office)
  • Miscellaneous contacts
• Section 16 – Appendices
  • Pilot Transfer Arrangements – Marine Notice 03/2022
  • VTS Vessel Booking Application Form
  • VTIS A4 – Tug and Tow Advice Form
  • Cyclone Tracking Chartlet – Eastern Australia
  • Dangerous Cargo Report
  • Dangerous Cargo Event Report (form F3220)
  • Arrival/Departure Report
  • Pilot Boarding Grounds (Gladstone)
  • Helicopter Operations Information (Gladstone)
  • Gladstone Pilot Helicopter Operations Declaration
  • Gladstone Port Navigation Depths
  • Pilotage Passage Plans (Gladstone, LNG, Cruise ships)
  • Pilotage – Gladstone Port and Pilotage Areas
  • Pilotage – Golding Cutting
  • Pilotage – Gatcombe and Auckland Channels
  • Pilotage –Boyne and South Trees Wharves
  • Pilotage – Barney Point Wharf
  • Pilotage – Auckland Point Wharves
  • Pilotage – Clinton Coal Facility Wharves
  • Pilotage – Clinton Bypass Channel
  • Pilotage – WICET Wharf
  • Pilotage – Targinie Channel
  • Pilotage – Fishermans Landing Wharves
  • Pilotage – Jacobs Channel
  • Pilotage – LNG Wharves
  • Marine Pollution Report (form 3968)
  • Marine Incident Report (form 3071)
  • Report of Suspect marine Safety Concern
  • Gas Free Status Declaration
  • Permission to Immobilise Main Engines
  • Example – Permission to Tank/Crude Oil Wash
  • Example – Chemist’s Certificate of Compliance
  • Instructions to Masters of Ships Berthed Within Zone 1
  • Small Craft Ship Navigation Areas and Recommended Courses
  • Gladstone VTS Area
  • Port of Gladstone Vessel Questionnaire (Form 1)
  • Vessel Pre-Arrival Condition Report (Form 2)
  • Terminal Pre-Arrival Confirmation Report (Form 3)
  • Deed of Indemnity – Port of Gladstone Escort Tugs
  • Vessel Interaction Prevention CCF Berths
  • Barney Point Wharf Passing Vessel Interaction Prevention
  • DUKC Draft Request Form
  • Pilot Ladder Checklist
  • Safe Work Method Statement — Boarding by ladder

Contact information

• Regional Harbour Master (Gladstone)
  Phone: +61 7 4971 5200^z
  Fax: +61 7 4971 5520^w
  Email: RHMGladstone@msq.qld.gov.au
• Gladstone Vessel Traffic Services 
  Phone: +61 7 4971 5208^z
  Fax: +61 7 4971 5212^w
  Email: VTSGladstone@msq.qld.gov.au
  VHF radio: channels 13 and 16
• Gladstone Ports Corporation Limited
  Phone: +61 7 4976 1333^z
  Fax +61 7 4972 3045^w
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
• Department of Home Affairs (Customs)
  Fax: +61 2 6275 6331^w
• Bureau of Meteorology