Bunbury

1. Bunbury boarding position 1 Pilot boards33°15.9′S 115°37.4′E
2. Bunbury boarding position 2 Pilot boards33°15.0′S 115°36.5′E

Size limits

LOA 270mm, beam 37.2m, draught 11.6m, 87,396DWT.

Water density

1024-1025 outer harbour, 1023-1026 inner harbour.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Maximum predicted H.W Springs 1.3 m above chart datum

Minimum predicted L.W Springs 0.0 m above chart datum

Heights are subject to atmospheric conditions; up to 0.3 meters either side of predicted height

Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.

Approach

DEPTHS: Outer Approaches 13.4m. Seaward channel 12.8m. Inner Channel 12.2m. Outer Harbour Approach 9.6m. Channel width to Inner Harbour 135m.

APPROACHES: The port is approached from N by the coast route from Rottnest Island (32°00.0'S 115°30.0'E), from W by the offshore route passing N of Naturaliste Reefs (33°15.0'S 115°02.0'E) or from SW by the coastal route from Cape Naturaliste (33°32.0'S 115°00.0'E) through Geographe Bay.

The Outer Approach Channel width is 120m. The bottom is sand, clay and rock.

The port is entered by a dredged channel through Koombana Bay.

Power House Leading marks: aligned on a bearing of 157.3° (337.3°).

Front mark (red triangle, point up, on building 11m in height, visible at 5nm), (33°18.8'S 115°39.6'E) (Flashing Blue Light).

Rear mark (red triangle, point down, on round metal tower, 20m in height, visible at 6nm), 0.25nm SSE of the front light, (Directional Flashing White).

From a position approx 3nm N of Point Casuarina Light the alignment of these Leading Lights in direction 157.3°(337.3°) situated near No 1 Groyne and the power station, leads towards the harbour entrance and into the dredged channel.

Outer and Inner Harbour: From a position midway between No 4 (Red) and No 5 (Green) Light Beacons, (33°18.0'S 115°38.6'E). The Channel turns SW to Outer Harbour Berths No 01 and 02.

Inner Harbour: Follow the Channel South using the alignment of the Cable Sand Leading Lights (Flashing Blue visible at 5nm) (33°19.2'S 115°39.1'E) 180°(360°) to Light Beacons No 9 (Green) and No 10 (Red), then turning SE to Beacons No 11 (Green) and No 12 (Red), on a mid Channel course at the Inner Harbour Entrance of 134.9°(314.9°) and then to the appropriate berth.

DUKC: The port operates a software system (a ship modelling package developed by OMC). Under favourable conditions, this allows larger vessels to access the harbour, which would not normally be allowed to do so, meaning every centimetre in allowable draught can be made the best of for port access and for loading of cargo. (see also Restrictions Section).

Port limits

The port limits are defined by a line drawn from Point Casuarina Light, (33°19'S 115°38'E) to 33°17.4'S 115°35.4'E to 33°15.5'S 115°36.9'E to shoreline at 33°15.5'S.

Anchorages

Vessels should call Port of Bunbury (VHF Ch 12) for anchorage position.

Anchor locations, approx 3nm NW of the Outer Harbour entrance, are centred on the positions below and have a radius of 0.75mnm. (Noted on Chart).

The holding ground is good, but unprotected in bad weather. In such conditions Masters are advised to remain at a minimum of 5nm off the coast.

The breakwater affords good shelter during NW gales, which are frequent from May to October. The usual anchorage, in 7.3m to 8.2m, sand and mud, lies ESE and SE of the outer end of the jetty; the holding ground is good.

Restrictions

Hazard: submarine pipeline, which is disused, extends in a W direction for 2.75nm from a point on the shore about 4.25nm NE of Casuarina Point Light.

Minimum draughts for berthing and sailing:

The minimum draughts required for vessels operating in the port are as follows:

Vessels must have forward draught of at least 2% of LOA and the propeller 70% immersed, eg: A Panamax vessel which is 225m in length overall and requiring a draught aft of 10.0m to fully immerse the propeller, needs to have forward draught of at least 4.5m and after draught of at least 7.0m.

Speed limit: Koombana Bay has a speed limit of 8kts.

Tugs

Towage services are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and are able to respond to emergencies within a maximum of 2 hours.

There are two tugs stationed in the port permanently: "Riverwijs Grace" and "Riverwijs Isabelle" both are 43t, twin Azimuth drive, tractor tugs. Tugs use tug lines only.

Mooring

Fendering (Outer Harbour):

Berth No 01 has horizontal rubber fendering 3m above CD.

Berth No 02 has vertical timber-faced fendering to within 1m of CD.

Fendering (Inner Harbour):

Berth No 03 has metal faced rubber fendering, water lubricated to within 1.5m of CD.

Berth No 04 has Seibu H1400 rubber on laminated metal faced fendering.

Berth No 05 has horizontal rubber fendering full length of berth with vertical rubber of 65m at West end.

Berth No 06 has Seibu H1400 rubber on laminated metal faced fendering.

Berth No 08 has vertical rubber fendering.

Berth No 03 Mooring: Vessels should prepare long backsprings on the main deck for warping the vessel during loading operations.

Berthing Hours: Vessels berth and sail at any time day and night depending on the priority of other vessels, labour availability and weather conditions.

Vessel berthing Priority: Is on "First Come, First Served Basis", dependent on a vessel's arrival at the usual place of "Waiting for a Pilot or Pilot on Board" time.

Survey: Vessels which fail survey at the Alcoa Berth (Berth No 4) cannot remain alongside or for cleaning.

Similarly, vessels cannot remain at other berths when it conflicts with other vessels wanting to work cargo.

Cleaning of Vessels in port: Does not have a priority over vessels wanting to work cargo. Normally, sufficient berths are available to accommodate competing needs.

Departure: Priority will be given to those vessels which require tide for sailing.

Mooring Gangs: Mooring gangs are available throughout 24 hours. Mooring gangs should be ordered before 1500hrs on any given working day, normally Monday to Friday. On weekends if there are expected movements between 1700hrs Friday and 2359hrs Monday (Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday) advice must be given to the Harbour Master's Office no later than 1500hrs on the Friday, to ensure there are no operational delays. Pilotage should be ordered in the same manner.

Charts and publications

BA 4708, 4709.

Australian Hydrographic: AUS115, 755, 335.

UK Hydrographic: AUS115. Admiralty Pilot NP13, NP286(4).

US74593, 74590, 74027, 74030. US Sailing Directions No 175 (North, West and South Coasts of Australia).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Vessels should contact PV 1 hour in advance.

Standard messages

Please refer to "Documentation Required" and "ETA" sections.

Documents

Vessels planning to call at an Australian port should complete a Ships Impending Arrival Details form for Australian Customs at least 48hrs prior to arrival (usually delivered via their Agent).

Master and crew require prior approval from Customs, before any items can be landed from a vessel.

An Application for Bunbury Berths and Services form can be found on the Port Authority website (www.byport.com.au). This advises the port of arrival of a vessel. (Usually dealt with by a vessel's Agent).

Note: Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) Pratique Form 006 and Ballast Water Exchange Form should be sent 48 hours prior to arrival.

Health

Pratique, which can be applied for by radio, should be requested 12-24 hours prior to arrival. Ship Sanitation Control and Exemption Certificates can be renewed.

Customs and immigration

The port of Bunbury is a first port of entry. The Customs House, in the Inner Harbour handles all Customs formalities, Tel: +61 97 914744. See Country information for full visa and entry requirements.

Flags

Vessels of 150t or more must show the national flag and the Australian national flag should be exhibited at the highest yard between the hours of sunrise and sunset within port waters. The "H" flag must be flown when a pilot embarks and the "Q" flag when the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) has not granted free pratique. Otherwise, flags are to be exhibited in accordance with the "International Code of Signals".

Notices and regulations

Stevedoring of vessels is the responsibility of P&O Ports but excluding the woodchip facility, Alcoa Alumina export and Caustic Soda import facility situated at Berth No 4 in the Inner Harbour.

All Masters of vessels intending to call and berth at the Port of Bunbury or remain alongside must advise the Harbour Master at the earliest opportunity of any condition which may affect the normal operational efficiency of their vessel.

Waste: Unless authorised by a member of staff of the port authority, the master of a vessel must not cause or permit any waste water or waste substances of any kind to be discharged from the vessel on to any part of a wharf or into the waters of the port. (Reg 17 of Port Authority).

Port State Control here: Tokyo MOU, Indian Ocean MOU.

Running now: the Paris and Tokyo MOU concentrated inspection campaign on cargo securing, 1 September to 30 November 2026. Its questions are published: the questionnaire.

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.

Contact person: The Secretary.

Address: GPO Box 594, Canberra ACT 2601 Australia.

Tel: +61 2 6274 7114.

Fax: +61 2 6274 7994.

Mob: +61 0417 273 185.

24 hour contact: Office of Transport Security Operations Centre.

Tel: +61 2 6274 8187.

Fax: +61 2 6274 6089.

Email: [email protected]

ISPS Compliance: ISPS compliance is 100% for Australian ports, Australian port facilities and Australian flagged ships.

For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org

Repairs

Limited general repairs available.

Dry docks

None available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available at all berths at a rate of approx 25tph at the Outer Harbour and at the Inner Harbour. Stock water is available at Berths No 5 and No 8 in the Inner Harbour at 100tph.

Bunkers: Bunkering is available, but only by road tanker (HFO and DO) from Perth. (Suppliers may change when Bunker Operator Licences expire).

Stores: Available from a local chandler.

Medical

Nearest hospital: Bunbury Day Hospital (3km).

Crew change

No restrictions.

Transport

Nearest main airport: Bunbury Airport (7km).

Nearest railway: Bunbury Terminal (3km).

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours.

Where it is

Bunbury is located on Wardandi Country, 175km south of Perth in the waters of Koombana Bay.

The port

bunbury port is part of Southern Ports, which also includes Esperance and Albany Ports.

Bunbury is divided into an Inner and Outer Harbour and is sheltered from the Indian Ocean by a natural breakwater, Cape Naturaliste.

The diverse commodities traded through the port extend to alumina, which is the highest traded commodity. Grain spodumene, caustic soda, woodchips, mineral and silica sands, copper concentrate, coal, fertiliser and fuel. The port also welcomes cruise vessels and assets for break bulk and project cargo.

Traffic

Approx 17,0000,000t of cargo (including 110,000t of coal and 1,000,000t of grain) and 400 vessels handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Bunbury?

The pilot boards at Bunbury boarding position 1, 33°15.9′S 115°37.4′E. Bunbury has 2 pilot boarding places.

What time zone is Bunbury in?

Local time at Bunbury is UTC+8. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Bunbury?

The deepest berth listed is at Inner Harbour: 11.60 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Bunbury?

1024-1025 outer harbour, 1023-1026 inner harbour.

Which load line zone is Bunbury in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Bunbury?

Port State Control at Bunbury: Tokyo MOU, Indian Ocean MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Bunbury?

The UN/LOCODE of Bunbury is AUBUY.

What crews who called at Bunbury say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.

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