Port Alma Port Procedures and Information for Shipping

Port Alma is situated approximately 60km by road from the city of Rockhampton on the southern end of the Fitzroy River delta. The principal cargoes handled are class 1 explosives, ammonium nitrate, bulk tallow and military equipment for exercises held regularly at Shoalwater Bay to the north of Rockhampton.

Alma shipping manual

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• Table of contents 
  • Harbour Master's Direction
  • Schedule One
  • Contents
  • List of tables
  • Table of amendments
• Section 1 – Introduction 
  • General
  • Port description
  • Purpose
  • Datum
  • Definitions
  • Contact information
  • Rules and regulations
• Section 2 – Arrival and departure procedures 
  • General
  • Arrival checklist
  • Departure checklist
  • Quarantine
  • Customs (Border Force)
  • Arrival/departure report
  • Dangerous goods
  • MASTREP
  • REEFVTS
  • Security
• Section 3 – Movement and traffic procedures 
  • General
  • Harbour control centre
  • Prior notification of movements
  • QSHIPS (Queensland Shipping Information Planning System)
  • Reporting defects
  • Schedule changes
  • Pilotage delays and cancellations
  • Movement clearance notification
  • Anchoring
  • Reporting requirements
• Section 4 – Port description 
  • General
  • Pilotage area
  • Load lines
  • Maximum vessel size
  • Time zone
  • Working hours
  • Charts and books
  • Shipping announcements
• Section 5 – Port infrastructure 
  • Port Alma berth information
  • Vessel berthing restrictions with vessels alongside
  • Anchorage areas
  • Lighthouses and leading lights
  • Buoys and beacons at Port Alma
  • Channel and berth depths
• Section 6 – Weather information 
  • General
  • Tidal information
  • Water density
• Section 7 – Port navigation and movement restrictions 
  • General
  • Speed
  • Arrival movement criteria
  • Departure movement criteria
  • Passing criteria
  • Under keel clearances
  • Dangers approaching pilot boarding ground
• Section 8 – Pilotage 
  • Vessels that require a pilot
  • Pilotage area
  • Night pilotage
  • Request for pilot
  • Pilot boarding position
  • Pilotage requirements for Torres Strait and Great Barrier Reef (GBR)
• Section 9 – Tug procedures 
  • General
  • Tug requirement guidelines
  • Ships anchors
• Section 10 – Work permits 
  • General
  • Work permits
• Section 11 – Dangerous cargo 
  • General
  • Dangerous cargo information
  • Dangerous cargo events
• Section 12 – Port safety 
  • Emergency contact numbers
  • Authorities
  • Fire
  • Emergency procedures for vessels carrying explosives and ammonium nitrate
  • Port evacuation
  • Marine pollution
  • Marine incidents
• Section 13 – Security 
  • General
  • Port security contacts
  • National security
• Section 14 – Port state control inspections 
• Section 15 – Port services 
  • Bunkering
  • Fresh water
  • Waste
  • Shipping agencies
  • The Missions to Seafarers (Gladstone)
• Section 16 – Appendices 
  • Port Alma port layout
  • VTS vessel booking application form
  • Port Alma pilotage area
  • Dangerous cargo report
  • Dangerous cargo report event report (form F3220)
  • Arrival/departure report
  • Pilot boarding grounds (Port Alma)
  • Pilot boarding ladder arrangements
  • Pilot transfer arrangements
  • Marine pollution report form
  • Marine incident report
  • Defects report form AMSA 355
  • Example – gas-free status declaration
  • Example – permission to immobilise main engines
  • Pilotage passage plan
  • Cyclone tracking chartlet – eastern Australia
  • Pilot Ladder Checklist
  • Safe Work Method Statement – Boarding by ladder

Contact information

• Regional Harbour Master (Gladstone)
  Phone: +61 7 4971 5200^z 
  Email: RHMGladstone@msq.qld.gov.au
• Harbour control
  Phone: +61 7 4839 0208^z 
  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)
• Bureau of Meteorology