Cape Flattery

1. Cape Flattery pilot boarding place Pilot boards14°56.8′S 145°23.0′E
2. Torres Strait Pilotage — Two/One and Half Mile Openings, Hilder Reef Pilot boards14°20.0′S 145°30.0′E

Size limits

LOA 195m, Beam 32.3m, 80,000DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Tropical.

Tides

Spring range 1.7m, neap range 0.4m.

Current normally sets NE under the wharf at rates up to 1.0kt but may be stronger during the wet season (December to March). After N winds the set is occasionally S or SW.

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

Approach

Approach and entry: The port lies immediately W of the two way traffic route in its vicinity, from which it is entered direct.

Port limits

Port limits enclose the waters between a point on the mainland S of the cape and Lookout Point (14°50'S 145°14'E) 11.5nm NNW; the E limit lies approx 1.25nm E of the cape.

The port limits also include the navigable waters of the rivers and creeks flowing, directly or indirectly, into the area described above.

Traffic schemes and VTS

Vessel Traffic Service is provided by Cairns VTS. Communication must be made with VTS Centre on VHF Ch 16 or 12 before any movement within the pilotage area.

ETA should be sent to Cairns Harbour 72, 48 and 12 hours before arrival, final ETA should be sent 2 hours prior. Before departing or shifting berth, all exempt vessels and vessels over LOA 35m should notify Cairns VTS and "All Ships" on VHF Ch 16 or 12.

Restrictions

Restrictions include:

Ballast condition should have the propeller fully immersed with maximum trim 2.5m by the stern with a forward draught no less than LOA 2% on arrival.

There are no restrictions on time, and berthing is at the discretion of the Regional Harbour Master with regards to weather conditions.

Engines must not be immobilized while alongside.

Unberthing is in accordance with the state of tide and draught.

Tugs

There are 2 tugs of 12t capacity available. Two work-boats run mooring lines to the berth.

Mooring

Vessels not berthing on arrival should proceed to the anchorage 3nm N of the inner harbour leads, anchors may be used in berthing operations and should be cleared away and ready for use.

Charts and publications

BA Aus 831,832, 270. Admiralty Pilot NP15, NP286(4).

Communications

VHF: Pilots: Ch 16, 06.

Cairns VTS: Ch 16, 12. Tel: +61 7 4052 7470. Fax: +61 7 4052 7460. Email: [email protected].

Berthing and Loading Operations: Ch 06.

Cape Flattery does not have a VHF station.

Standard messages

Note: To be lodged at Customs Marine Centre, with a copy of the Crew List, 48 hours prior to the vessel's arrival.

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Health

No local quarantine facilities. Arrangements for health clearance must be made through the agent at Cairns.

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

Bunkers, water and stores

Not available.

Medical

There is no hospital at Cape Flattery. There is first aid treatment available in the port and the landing strip can accommodate the Royal Flying Doctor Service for patient transfers to hospitals in nearby centres such as Cairns.

Transport

Nearest airport: There is a landing strip for light aircraft.

Nearest railway: Not available locally.

Working hours

Daylight hours only.

Where it is

Cape Flattery is situated more than 200km N of Cairns on the E coast of Cape York Peninsula. It is the most northerly trading port on the E coast of Australia.

The port

Cape Flattery is a silica sand loading port. There is also a general purpose wharf for the import of fuel and other supplies for the mine.

Traffic

Approx 2,500,000t of cargo handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Cape Flattery?

The pilot boards at Cape Flattery pilot boarding place, 14°56.8′S 145°23.0′E. Cape Flattery has 2 pilot boarding places.

What time zone is Cape Flattery in?

Local time at Cape Flattery is UTC+10. No summer time.

What is the water density at Cape Flattery?

1025.

Which load line zone is Cape Flattery in?

Tropical.

Who carries out Port State Control at Cape Flattery?

Port State Control at Cape Flattery: Tokyo MOU, Indian Ocean MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Cape Flattery?

The UN/LOCODE of Cape Flattery is AUCQP.

What crews who called at Cape Flattery 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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