Port procedures – definitions

  • Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)
    The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is the Commonwealth authority charged with enhancing efficiency in the delivery of safety and other services to the Australian maritime industry.
  • Australian Standard – AS3846 – 2005
    AS3846 refers to the Australian requirements for the transport and handling of dangerous goods in port areas.
  • Bridge resource management (BRM)
    An internationally recognised style of interaction between the pilot and the bridge team aimed at optimising the use of the personnel resources available to assist in the safe pilotage of the ship.
  • Gross registered tonnage (GRT)
    The measurement indicated on the international tonnage certificate of a ship. The value is used in the calculation of conservancy fees.
  • Deep draught vessel
    A deep draught vessel is any vessel that can only navigate within the confines of the main shipping channels with a tide height of mean low water neaps (typically 15m).
  • Estimated time of arrival (ETA)
    The expected time of arrival at a designated place.
  • Estimated time of departure (ETD)
    The scheduled sailing time, the time of the last line.
  • Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC)
    The Gladstone Ports Corporation is owned by the Queensland Government and is charged with overseeing the commercial activities in the port, including the maintenance of the port infrastructure.
  • International Maritime Organization (IMO)
    The world organisation charged with enhancing efficiency in the delivery of safety to the whole maritime industry.
  • International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code)
    This code is published by the International Maritime Organization with the purpose of providing information for the safe carriage, packing, handling, classing and transporting of dangerous goods.
  • Lowest astronomical tide (LAT)
    This is the zero value from which all tides are measured.  
  • Manager (Pilotage Services)
    The person responsible for the service delivery of pilotage services within the region.
  • Manager (Vessel Traffic Management)
    The person responsible for the management of the vessel traffic service centre.
  • Maritime Safety Queensland
    The state government agency responsible for the operations of pilotage, pollution protection services, vessel traffic services and the administration of all aspects of vessel registration and marine safety in the state of Queensland.
  • MASTREP (Modernised Australian Ship Tracking and Reporting System)
    The Modernised Australian Ship Tracking and Reporting System (MASTREP) is a ship reporting system designed to contribute to safety of life at sea and is operated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) through the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) Australia in Canberra.
  • Navigation Act
    Refers to the Navigation Act 1912.
  • Nett explosive mass (NEM)
    The nett explosive mass refers to the nett content of explosive material in any given amount or parcel of cargo (sometimes referred to as the nett explosive content [NEC] or the nett explosive quantity [NEQ]).
  • Non gas-free tankers (NGF)
    A tanker (includes oil bulk ore) or product carrier that has not had its cargo tanks washed, vented and inspected or been issued with a gas-free certificate.
  • North Queensland Bulk Ports Limited (NQBP)
    North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Limited (NQBP) is a government-owned corporation which under the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994 is the port authority for the seaport facilities at Hay Point, Mackay, Abbot Point, Weipa and Maryborough. NQBP is responsible for overseeing the sustainable commercial activities within these ports, including the maintenance of the port infrastructure in common user areas.
  • Nuclear
    Nuclear refers to any plant or equipment which incorporates the use of substances capable of emitting radiation (see special plan for visits of nuclear powered warships to Gladstone).
  • Overall length (LOA)
    Extreme length of the vessel.
  • Pilotage Exemption Certificate (PEC)
    Exemption granted to certain qualified masters who have satisfied the necessary legislative requirements and are authorised to navigate ships in the port pilotage area without a pilot.
  • Queensland Shipping Information Planning System (QSHIPS)
    An internet web based ship movement booking service that may be accessed by the shipping community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The program allows port service provider organisations the ability to accept service requests made by shipping agents and streamline ship movement planning by significantly reducing the existing levels of point to point communications that are necessary to ensure a planned ship movement has been adequately resourced with supporting services.
  • REEFREP
    The mandatory ship reporting system established by International Maritime Organization (IMO) Resolution MSC.52 (66), as amended by Resolution MSC.161 (78), and specified in Marine Orders Part 56 (REEFVTS) Issue 2.
  • REEFVTS
    The Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait Vessel Traffic Service (REEFVTS) established by Australia as a means of enhancing navigational safety and environmental protection in Torres Strait and the Great Barrier Reef.
  • Regional harbour master (RHM)
    The person authorised to give direction under the relevant provisions of the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994.
  • Sailing time
    The scheduled sailing time is the time of the last line.
  • Ship scheduler
    A person suitably qualified, delegated by the regional harbour master to schedule the movement of vessels and to give direction under the relevant provisions of the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994.
  • Vessel traffic service operator (VTSO)
    A person, suitably qualified, delegated by the regional harbour master to monitor the safe movement of vessels and to give direction under the relevant provisions of the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994.
  • Vessel traffic service (VTS)
    A vessel traffic service is any service implemented by a competent authority, designed to maximise the safe and efficient movement of water borne traffic.
Last updated
24 January 2023