PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Burnie
Pilot
updated Feb 2017- Burnie pilot boarding place Pilot boards41°00.0′S 145°58.7′E
Pilotage is compulsory and available throughout 24 hours for vessels over LOA 35m. Vessels that require a pilot to enter the port should not proceed S of 41°02.00'S before embarkation. Pilot boards in position at: 41°01.62'S 145°57.19'E. The PV, William Bowen, is 12.5m long, with an orange hull and buff cabin aft; equipped with VHF it shows the normal international pilot signals.
No vessel other than a vessel exempted from pilotage shall be navigated within the port unless a licensed pilot is employed for the conduct of such a vessel.
Key data
updated Jun 2021Size limits
LOA 294.13m, beam 37.2m, draught 11.2m, 71,066DWT.
Water density
1023-1026.
Load line zone
Summer.
Tides
HW: 3.22m
LW: 0.5m
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burnie Tasmania | 9.90 m | 294 m | 5 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Jun 2021Approach
Vessels approaching the port from the W should, by day, keep the 2 orange beacons on the shoulder of Round Hill open to the N and then turn onto the main harbour leads which are in transit 224°.
By night, keep in the white sector of Round Hill Point Light until the 2 blue lead lights come into transit 224°.
Vessels approaching from the E should keep well clear of Round Hill Point and then turn onto the main leads by day, or the blue lead lights by night.
The port is protected by 2 breakwaters. The inner founded at the inner end of Blackman Reef, lies in 110° direction, length 381m. The other is an island structure and lies in a 130° direction and is 488m in length. The western end of the breakwater bears 045° x 213m from the eastern end of the inner breakwater.
The port has deep water with 10.0m in the approaches to the berths.
The diameter of the swing basin is 460m.
Caution: The principal danger off the port is Blackman Reef, with shallow water extending 1nm seaward from the western shore of the bay.
Port limits
All waters that are bounded by an imaginary circle having a radius of 3nm and centred at the E end of the island breakwater in Emu Bay.
Anchorages
Anchorage may be obtained in Emu Bay with good holing ground, sand and clay, but open N and E. Depths decrease rather suddenly inshore of the 5m line. Vessels should not anchor within a depth of less than 13.0m. Temporary anchorage may be obtained on the alignment of the main approach leads, 2nm from the E end of Island Breakwater.
Anchoring is prohibited in a precautionary area centred on position 41°02.81'S 145°56.00'E and designated as a Channel Escape Area in which large vessels are liable to make bold alterations of course and/or speed.
Restrictions
The port is fog free and there is no restriction on night movements.
Acid Line Bridge has a vertical clearance of 11m.
Tugs
Tugs should be ordered through agent with at least 24 hours before arrival/departure/shifting. Three tugs are available, 3 x 2500hp, each twin screw about 40t bollard pull are available. Two tugs are stationed in the Port and available on request.
Mooring
The minimum requirements for mooring handy size vessels with forward: 4 headlines and 2 springs and aft: 4 stern lines and 2 springs. Woodchip vessels are moored with forward: 5 headlines and 2 springs and aft: 5 stern lines and 2 springs.
A lines boat is used to assist running of lines. First lines are generally headlines then a spring forward. First line aft is generally a spring, sent ashore by heaving line. Weather and vessel constraints vary all of the above.
Charts and publications
Aus 163, 799. Admiralty Pilot NP14, NP286(4).
Reporting before arrival
updated Feb 2017ETA and pre-arrival notices
Vessel's should advise ETA at the pilot boarding position 24 hours in advance. Any amendments should be advised as soon as possible. For vessels carrying explosives 48 hours notice of ETA must be given.
Communications
VHF:
Coast Station: Ch 16, 12, callsign "Burnie Harbour", range over 90nm.
Pilot Vessel and Tugs: Ch 16, 12, 08, 06.
Notice of readiness
NOR to be tendered at the pilot station or as per Charter Party.
Health
All vessels to obtain pratique from quarantine through ship's agent 24 hours before arrival. Ship Sanitation Control and Exemption Certificates are renewable.
Flags
Australian National Flag, "G" Flag: Pilot required; "H" Flag: Pilot onboard.
Notices and regulations
See Country section for detailed pre arrival and documentation requirements.
Inspections
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
Port services
updated Aug 2011Repairs
Machinery repairs carried out. Engineering firms with extensive workshops are situated nearby.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available, delivery rate approx 50tph, hoses are supplied by the port corporation.
Bunkering: Available by road tanker.
Stores: Available.
Medical
North West Central, Burnie, 1km.
Crew change
Crew change is possible.
Transport
Nearest airport: Burnie, 20km, at Wynyard.
Airport facilities: Several flights daily to Melbourne.
Nearest railway: Burnie (adjacent to port).
Working hours
Throughout 24 hours.
About Burnie
updated Oct 2026Where it is
Burnie is situated on the western shore of Emu Bay on the N coast of Tasmania. The bay has a width of 2nm and a length of 1nm facing in a N'ly direction.
The port
Burnie handles overseas traffic and is a terminal for vessels trading between Tasmania and Melbourne, second only to Hobart as a deep water port and container terminal.
The port has facilities for a variety of cargoes on 4 main piers. The breakwater runs NW along the eastern side of the harbour. Large quarter ramp vessels can be accommodated at 3 berths with one stern loading ramp.
The port is equipped to handle all types of cargo, including containers, general cargo, bulk concentrates, petroleum, tallow, seafood, limestone, paper pulp, woodchips, logs, fruit, vegetables and livestock.
Traffic
Approx 4,800,000t of cargo, 265,000TEU and 400 vessels handled annually.
Questions about Burnie
Where does the pilot board at Burnie?
The pilot boards at Burnie pilot boarding place, 41°00.0′S 145°58.7′E.
What time zone is Burnie in?
Local time at Burnie is UTC+11. Back to UTC+10 on 3 Apr 2027. Clocks go to UTC+11 on 2 Oct 2027.
What is the maximum draft at Burnie?
The deepest berth listed is at Burnie Tasmania: 9.90 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Burnie?
1023-1026.
Which load line zone is Burnie in?
Summer.
Who carries out Port State Control at Burnie?
Port State Control at Burnie: Tokyo MOU, Indian Ocean MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Burnie?
The UN/LOCODE of Burnie is AUBWT.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Burnie 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.
A planning aid, not for navigation. These facts come from public sources and each section shows how old it is. Check with the port, your agent, your ENCs and official publications. Spotted something wrong? Tell us on the feedback board.