Fremantle

1. Fremantle Fairway Buoy Pilot boards31°57.0′S 115°39.0′E
2. Fremantle Hall Bank Beacon Inner Boarding Pilot boards32°01.4′S 115°41.3′E
3. Fremantle boarding Pilot boards31°55.5′S 115°36.0′E

Size limits

LOA 345.03m, beam 48.4m, draught 12.9m, 132,035DWT.

Water density

1025 or more throughout the year except in the inner harbour during winter and spring when fresh water enters from the Swan River.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Range 1.1m (winter), 0.8m (summer).

Fremantle Tidal movements are mainly diurnal with a small semi diurnal effect evident during neap tides. An increase in barometric pressure tends to lower the sea level approximately 0.1m for a difference in pressure of 10mbs and vice versa. However, the effects of pressure are not evident immediately and rarely exceed 0.25m. The effect of wind depends on wind direction and duration.

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

Approach

SEAWARD APPROACHES: All vessels entering the Port of Fremantle must make their approach passing to the N of Rottnest Island.

Unless constrained by draught and compelled to take a pilot at the outer boarding ground, inbound vessels may proceed to Gage Roads either to anchor or embark a pilot at the inner boarding ground.

The Deep Water Channel SE of Fairway/Landfall Buoy, distinguished initially by Buckland Hill directional PEL Light (32°01.1'S 115°45.6'E) and virtual AIS buoys provides a depth of 16.5m in the white sector into Gage Roads, the channel being marked by 5 buoys.

The bank between the 10m contour and Deep Water Channel provides a minimum depth of 10.6m in the white sector of Woodman Light (32°07.9'S 115°46.6'E) but is subject to large swells after W'ly winds. The red/white blend of Woodman Light clears the 10m contour on this bank.

A least depth of 13.1m, in the green sector of Woodman Light, and close to the E of Deep Water Channel, is available for those vessels which do not require Deep Water Channel on departure but who may be affected by swell to the W of this channel.

APPROACH CHANNELS:

SUCCESS AND PARMELIA APPROACH CHANNEL: One Channel with Success Bank to the N and Parmelia Bank to the South, leading 169.2° from NNW to SSE down to Cockburn Sound and 349.2° from SSE to NNW, up to Cage Roads and the start of the approach channel into Fremantle Inner Harbour. Dredged to minimum of 14.7m below Fremantle datum, min width 152.4m, able to accommodate vessels up to 140,000DWT. Secondary channels leading off to Alumina Refinery Jetty and Kwinana Bulk Terminal, dredged to a minimum depth of 11.6m below Fremantle Datum, min width 152.4m.

THE AUSTRALIAN MARINE COMPLEX: Southern Harbour, main approach is made from the South (342.6°) via the Medina Channel. The entrance is marked by a S Cardinal at the head of the breakwater and green lit marker No 3. The entrance to the Northern Harbour, to the NE of Jervoise Bay, has red and green lit markers displayed from the end of each breakwater.

DEPTH OF APPROACH CHANNEL TO INNER HARBOUR: The declared depth of the approach channel to Inner Harbour and sections of Inner Harbour area are dredged to 14.7m LW. The declared depth of the approach channel and berths are part of maintenance dredging programmes and may not be actual.

Port limits

The port limits extend from a point on the coast at 32°02.5'S, then in a general NNW direction to the parallel of 31°53'S, then W to the meridian of 115°32'E, then generally S to the parallel of 31°57'S, then E to the meridian of 115°35'E, then in a general SE direction to the meridian of 115°40'E. Then S to the parallel of 32°08.33'S, then inshore of Garden Island in a general SSE and SE direction to the mainland 0.5nm SW of Kwinana Grain Jetty. Outside the port limits is a section of inshore water S of South Mole to Woodman Point including Fish Rocks.

Traffic schemes and VTS

A 24hr VTS with full AIS, RADAR and ECDIS surveillance is maintained for the control of shipping at the Signal Station on top of the Fremantle Ports Administration Building.

Anchorages

Vessels anchoring should establish communication with Fremantle and listen on Ch 12.

Quarantine Anchorage:

Vessels which have not been granted pratique must not pass S of a line between N Mole (32°03.1'S 115°43.4'E) and Mewstone (32°05'S 115°40'E).

There are six designated anchorages within Naval Waters between Careening Bay and Sulphur Bay in 10m to 12m clay. However, in very strong winds it is reported that vessels are likely to drag their anchors here.

Restrictions

*13% Summer (Nov to Apr.) 14% Winter (May to Oct).

A Restricted Area is in place to cover the entire waters of the Australian Marine Complex within the main breakwaters from a line joining the W breakwater S Cardinal mark to Medina Channel starboard lateral mark No 1, then directly E on a line of latitude 32°10.923'S to the coast.

Whales: Migrating and resting whales use the waters around the Fremantle area from September through to November. Vessels are advised to navigate with due care and appropriate caution around whale activity, including reducing to an appropriate speed to maintain safe navigation. Vessels should also report any sightings to the VTS, using an approx bearing and distance to a fixed object.

Tugs

Fremantle Tug Operators provide three large tugs, up to 4,800hp, for assistance of vessels in the Inner Harbour and two other large tugs are available in the Outer Harbour. In addition to the large tugs, two companies (Total Harbour Services & Stirling Marine) offer a variety of smaller tugs. Allocation of tugs is as per the Harbour Master's Operational Parameters.

All tugs in the port of Fremantle are privately owned and operated.

Mooring

Patrick Terminal: Max draught is 12.7m. However, for berthing and unberthing, 0.5m UKC is required. On assessment, Port may allow 0.3m UKC when alongside cargo work.

Kwinana Bulk Terminal Bulk Berth 2: Berth length is 268m with Jetty length 498m, extending at 90° from shoreline.

Charts and publications

US Sailing Directions No 175 "North, West and South Coasts of Australia".

Admiralty Pilot NP13, NP286(4).

NP83 Admiralty List of Lights and Fog Signals, Volume 'K'.

Australian Seafarers' Handbook.

Masters must ensure that all navigational resources, including charts and documentation, are current and up to date.

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Any variance from the latest advised time should be notified to the Harbour Master as soon as possible.

All messages of notification of arrival should be addressed to the Harbour Master and sent directly to the Port Authority Signal Station. Failure to provide the correct notice of arrival may cause a vessel to be delayed in berthing.

Quarantine Authorities require mandatory pre arrival AQIS report to be sent between 48 hours and 12 hours before arrival from a foreign port, see Country section for further details required for advance notice of Crew Lists and Cargo Declaration.

Fremantle Port Authority require Form No3, Application for Berth, to be submitted no less than seven days prior to arrival. Dynamic Under Keel Clearance (DUKC) application forms should be submitted as early as possible but not less than 48 hours prior to arrival (for deep draught vessels arriving and departing).

Before bunkering or transfer of oil between ship or ship and barge is permitted, Form W12 must be completed and submitted no less than 24 hours beforehand.

Departure: Vessels should give 2 hours' notice of confirmation of departure with updated departure draught, stability data (if required) and at least 2hrs notice of cancellation or change for any movement booking.

Communications

Orders concerning shipping movements, allocation of berths and related matters are passed to ships, pilots, tugs and mooring staff through the signal station. In addition to the recording of shipping movements, the Port Control Officer on duty deals with calls of an urgent nature involving fire, accident, mechanical and electrical breakdown, boats and/or ships in distress, the need for medical assistance and navigation light failure.

All communications with the Signal Station whether by VHF or telephone are recorded.

All waters of the Port of Fremantle are within the VHF coverage of Perth Radio "(VIP)".

Maritime safety information messages including coastal weather forecasts and navigation warnings are transmitted on Ch 67 at 0718hrs and 1918hrs, local time.

Health

Pratique Requirements: The Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) inspect all vessels arriving from overseas. Prior to arrival, all vessels more than 25m LOA are required to submit a Quarantine Pre-Arrival Report (QPAR) to AQIS at their first port of call no more than 96 hours and no less than 12 hours prior to the vessel's ETA in Australia. Information on how to complete this form can be found on www.aqis.gov.au/shipping.

Radio Pratique: Concession of radio pratique is available to all vessels except those which carry livestock. Radio pratique may be applied for by livestock vessels. However, they will be boarded and inspected by a Quarantine Officer before the vessel is allowed to berth.

Customs and immigration

Contact local Customs Department. Crew and passengers on vessels arriving in Australia are required to present themselves for Immigration Clearance. Any person arriving and who departs the vessel without doing this, may result in them being an unlawful entrant and subject to serious Immigration compliance action.

A vessel is deemed to have arrive in the country when it has berthed or has dropped its anchor. Customs sometimes complete Immigration Clearance on board a vessel, such as a cruise ship, while it is enroute from its last overseas port. Customs will issue a Seaports Immigration Clearance Advice form (Customs Form B523). It is recommended that a copy of this is kept by the Master after it has been issued. Further information on Fremantle Customs and Immigration procedures can be found in the Port Information Guide, website: http://www.fremantleports.com.au

Notices and regulations

Tanker regulations: Special Regulations for tankers berthing at Oil Refinery Jetties.

Opening/Closing Hatches: By arrangement between ship's agent and stevedores.

Dangerous Cargoes: At least 48 hours notification is required for all dangerous cargoes (including transit cargoes) entering the Port. All high hazard dangerous cargoes require permission for entry into Fremantle Port berths.

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

All types of deck and engine repairs possible. The Australian Marine Centre just S of Woodmans Point is equipped with extensive dry berth support facilities and has the largest shiplift in Australia.

Repairs of any kind are prohibited unless authorised by the Harbour Master. This regulation is vigorously enforced and any person committing a breach of these regulations shall be liable to a penalty.

Dry docks

Multiple Shipyards can accommodate all kinds of repair, maintenance and shipbuilding constructions for all types of ships, commercial and naval fleet.

List of active Shipyards available for service in Port of Fremantle:

Fremantle Austal Ships Shipyard

Fremantle BAE Shipyard

Fremantle Echo Marine Group Shipyard

Fremantle SFM Marine Shipyard

Fremantle AMC Marine Shipyard

Fremantle Kailis Marine Shipyard

Fremantle Hanseatic Marine Shipyard

Bunkers, water and stores

Stores: Available by private contractor, arranged by ship's agent.

Medical

Fremantle General Hospital, 1.5km.

Notice is not necessary but advisable if treatment is required. Full hospital facilities are available. Cholera vaccinations are essential if a ship comes from an affected area. International certificates must be current.

Crew change

Available.

Shore leave: Freemantle Ports and the Flying Angel Club provide transport to and from vessels berthed at North Quay (Berths 1, 2, 11 and 12), Victoria Quay and Kwinana Bulk Terminal and Bulk Jetty. Photographic evidence is required for crew to access the Flying Angel Club transport service.

Transport

Nearest airports: Perth International Airport (35km), Perth Domestic Airport (23km).

Nearest railway: Fremantle (North Quay) and some Kwinana (Outer Harbour) berths are connected to the state railway system.

Working hours

Most berths have 24hr working hours, split up into two or three shifts. Shipboard stevedoring by private contractor, usually arranged by ship's agent. ETA should include cargo particulars, showing heavy lifts, dangerous or hazardous cargoes, hatch stowage, gangs required, etc.

Where it is

The port of Fremantle is a modern deep water port at the mouth of the Swan River on the SW coast of Australia. The Outer Harbour is situated 20km S of the river mouth at Kwinana.

The port

Fremantle handles over 90%, in value, of Western Australia State's sea imports and over 30% of its exports. The port consists of outer and inner harbour. The Inner Harbour within the mouth of the river has sheltered berths for break bulk, containers, vehicles, livestock and cruise ships.

The Outer Harbour handles dry and liquid bulk cargoes such as grain, petroleum products, caustic soda, alumina, sands, coal, cement clinker, sulphur and fertilisers. A bulk loading facility is located at Kwinana Bulk Terminal exporting iron ore as well as other mineral products. To the S of Woodman Point The Australian Marine Complex specialises in the repair, maintenance and construction of naval and commercial vessels as well as the fabrication and assembly of offshore oil and gas modules.

Fremantle port is managed using the "Voyager Port Management System" to support vessel scheduling, berth allocation, pilotage and other operations. Puma Energy have recently opened a Joint Venture bitumen import facility using a main import wharf line from Kwinana Bulk Jetty.

Traffic

Approx 29,000,000t of cargo, 890,000 TEU, 1,300 vessels and over 72,000 passengers handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Fremantle?

The pilot boards at Fremantle Fairway Buoy, 31°57.0′S 115°39.0′E. Fremantle has 3 pilot boarding places.

What time zone is Fremantle in?

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

What is the maximum draft at Fremantle?

The deepest berth listed is at BP Oil Refinerry Terminal (Kiwana): 13.70 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Fremantle?

1025 or more throughout the year except in the inner harbour during winter and spring when fresh water enters from the Swan River.

Which load line zone is Fremantle in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Fremantle?

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

What is the UN/LOCODE of Fremantle?

The UN/LOCODE of Fremantle is AUFRE.

What crews who called at Fremantle 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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