Geraldton

1. Geraldton Boarding Position A Pilot boards28°46.5′S 114°30.5′E

Size limits

LOA 294m, beam 43m, draught 12.0m, 99,990DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Mean Maximum Range: 0.5m. Mean Minimum Range: 0.1m. MHHW 1.1m, Mean sea level 0.8m, MLLW 0.6m.

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

Approach

The Main Approach to the port is from the West but there is also a Small Ship Channel, approaching from the North, with depth of 7.0m LAT, for vessels with a draught less than 7.3m.

The Main Channel is indicated with a series of port and starboard buoys and has a depth of between 12.6m and 12.88m at the Harbour Entrance. A Sea Buoy is located at 28°46.2'S 114°31.7'E (Racon 'G') at the beginning of the approaches to the Main Entrance Channel. The Channel initially takes a course of 071° (251°) for approximately 1.2nm starting at Red Buoy No 2 and Green Buoy No 3. The Main Entrance Channel then curves round to the South approximately 1.5nm, still following the Red and Green marker buoys, and joining the Small Ship Channel which comes from a Northerly direction, ending up on a course of 180° (360°) and taking vessels due South into the port area. The distance between the breakwaters is 180m. The bottom is rock, Inner Harbour Depth 12.4m LAT.

Port limits

The port limits extend from Point Moore Light (28°47.00'S 114°35.00'E) W to meridian of 114°30.00'E, thence N to the coast, 2.75 miles NW of Woolawar Gully (28°30.00'S 114°32.00'E).

Traffic schemes and VTS

Geraldton Port operates a Marine Traffic Service to the VTS standard of an Information Service for the gazetted port waters and approaches. The VTS has active coverage on VHF Ch 11 between 0700 and 1700 Monday to Friday. Outside of these hours, an active service is available one hour prior to scheduled vessel movements.

All shipping movements in port waters are controlled by and subject to the directions of the Harbour Master. The Harbour Master can give general or specific directions and permits or approvals via Geraldton Harbour VHF Ch 11 and 16.

Anchorages

A series of Designated Anchorage areas are located 5.5nm NNW (B13 to B22) and 2.7nm NW (A1 to A12) of the port entrance. Each circular area has a swinging radius of approx 4.3nm and is indicated on Charts.

Two additional Designated Anchorages (S1 and S2) are located approx 2.5nm W of Point Moore.

A Quarantine Anchorage is located 3.5nm North of the port entrance.

Vessel anchorage positions are marked on chart AUS81 and the ship scheduler provides written advice, pertaining to assigned anchorages and scheduled shipping movements, to all agents Monday to Friday with Duty Pilots providing updates over the weekends.

Each afternoon vessels are contacted by VHF on Ch 11, and notified of any overnight or weekend movements. In addition Pilots have access outside of working hours to AIS and can act if incorrect anchorages are occupied. Advice is also provided to all ships regarding impending strong winds or heavy swell.

Restrictions

Owing to strong sets on to the off lying reefs all vessels are advised to await pilot westwards of the Fairway Buoy. Vessels should not enter the channel without the express permission of the Harbour Master.

Tankers are berthed during daylight hours only.

Berthing order is based on arrival time at within 1.0nm of Fairway Buoy, provided 48 hours and 24 hours notice has been given directly to harbour master via agent and the required berth application has been completed in full.

Under Keel Clearance (UKC): The Dynamic Under Keel Clearance System, which calculates the maximum allowable draught in excess of 11.5m at any time, is in operation. This system will calculate the maximum allowable draught, up to 12.8m, taking into account UKC required due to swell conditions and state of tide.

Tugs

There are three tugs, "Tarcoola" and "Wajarri" each 1,492Kw, 50t bollard pull, designed speed of 12kts, LOA 28.5m, both tugs have fire fighting capability and "Bunbury" 60t bollard pull, designed speed of 12kts with LOA 31.87m.

Agents are advised that tugs must be ordered from the Harbour Master's Office by 1530 hours on the previous day, or in the case of weekends and public holidays, by 1530 hours on the previous working day. Orders to be placed at Hr Mr Office. These orders can be changed, provided 2 hours notice is given to the operating Harbour Master.

Mooring

Visiting vessels are required to consult the Shipping Arrival Information Sheet found on the Port website (https://www.midwestports.com.au/operations/shipping-information.aspx).

Berth 7: Used by Panamax Iron Ore vessels port side alongside. The total mooring line plan requires six headlines and six stern lines plus two reverse springs fore and two aft. For example, six and two at each end.

Berth 7 ships can only berth in surge events up to 8 cm however once alongside can remain so during surge up to 12cm.

Charts and publications

BA 4708. Admiralty Pilot NP13, NP286(4).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Vessel's ETA must be advised direct to the Harbour Master, 48, 24 and 6 hours prior to arrival, message must include forward and aft draughts. Mandatory report to AQIS for quarantine and ballast water information also required between 48hours and 12hours before arrival, see Country section for further details. No night berthing for tankers.

ETD must be advised not less than 12 hours and confirmed 4 hours before departure.

Standard messages

Unquote.

Notice of readiness

Tendered at arrival at the Pilot Station, usually accepted at time of passing surveys.

Documents

A range of documents to be submitted before arrival can be found on the port website. Visiting vessels are required also to consult the Shipping Arrival Information Sheet found on the Port website (https://www.midwestports.com.au/operations/shipping-information.aspx).

All vessels are required to submit an “Application for Berth” to the Mid West Ports Authority a minimum of four days prior to arrival and must comply with the requirements of Geraldton Harbour Control and the Harbour Master.

Health

Pratique by radio, Australian Quarantine Inspection Service.

Customs and immigration

The Australian Customs Service requires all overseas vessels to provide full details of the vessel, crew, passengers, animals and cargo at least 96 hours prior to arrival.

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

Boat lift for vessels LOA 21m, 6.9m beam and 80t. Engineering and general ship repairs are available.

Dry docks

The port have the facilities for general repairs, maintenance and shipbuilding construction for local small fleet.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available at all berths, except Berth 7 (loading rate of 17tph).

Bunkering: Two Companies at the port area licences to provide bunkering services. A Permit Application system is operated and Form MWPA should be lodged at lease 48 hours prior to any planned bunkering activities for diesel or heavy oils. (https://www.midwestports.com.au/health-safety-environment/permit-system.aspx)

Medical

There are hospital facilities available, 2km from the port.

Crew change

Possible.

Transport

Nearest airport: Geraldton, 8km.

Airport facilities: Daily flights to Perth connecting with overseas flights.

Nearest railway: Geraldton Railway provides a freight service for incoming cargoes.

Working hours

Normally 0800-1200hrs, 1300-1700hrs, 1700-2359hrs, 0001-0700hrs. Vessels are handled on a 24 hour basis if required.

Where it is

The port of Geraldton is situated at the S of Champion Bay on Point Moore in Western Australia, 424km N of Perth.

The port

The port handles exports of talc, zinc and copper concentrates, mineral sands, zircon, wheat, lupins, oats, barley, canola, livestock, stockfeeds, also iron ore and manganese. Imports handled include petroleum products, mineral sands and fertilisers.

Traffic

Approx 19,000,000t of cargo (including 14,000,000t of iron ore and 2,800,000t of grain) and 390 vessels handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Geraldton?

The pilot boards at Geraldton Boarding Position A, 28°46.5′S 114°30.5′E.

What time zone is Geraldton in?

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

What is the maximum draft at Geraldton?

The deepest berth listed is at Geraldton Terminal: 12.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Geraldton?

1025.

Which load line zone is Geraldton in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Geraldton?

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

What is the UN/LOCODE of Geraldton?

The UN/LOCODE of Geraldton is AUGET.

What crews who called at Geraldton 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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