Karumba

1. Karumba (Norman River) pilot boarding Pilot boards17°21.6′S 140°39.0′E

Size limits

Draught 4.6m, LOA 100m.

Largest vessel handled: "Wunma" LOA 113.5m.

Water density

Varies from 1025 to 1000 depending on amount of rainfall experienced.

Load line zone

South Pacific Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Apr 1 to Nov 30, Summer Dec 1 to Mar 31.

Tides

The tidal regime at Karumba is predominantly diurnal with an extreme range during spring tides of up to 4.7m.

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

Approach

The channel has a depth of 3.6m and width of 60m.

The directions are as follows:

From the vicinity of 17°22.0'S 140°37.0'E, approx 13nm WNW of Alligator Point, the track leads ESE towards the Fairway Lightbuoy (safe water) marking the start of the maintained channel. The alignment 119° of Karumba Leading Lights leads from the Fairway Lightbuoy along the maintained channel to the Outer Banks, the channel is marked on both sides by light beacons. The track then leads E then ESE, passing S of Elbow Bank and following the maintained channel marked by light beacons and lightbuoys until deeper water is reached in the vicinity of No 16 Lightbuoy (port hand). The track then continues generally ESE through the buoyed channel, marked by various lightbuoys (port and starboard hand), passing between Alligator Point, the S entrance of Norman River and an unnamed point, 1nm E, forming the N entrance point of Norman River, known locally as Karumba Point, then between the rivers banks to the berth.

Port limits

The port limits of Karumba extend 10nm from the port's water tower.

The port limits are bounded by the following co-ordinates:

1. 17°30.0'S 140°44.6'E.

2. 17°24.0'S 140°41.0'E.

3. 17°20.2'S 140°47.9'E.

4. 17°25.5'S 140°51.2'E.

-including the waters of the Norman River to longitude 140°52.0'E.

Traffic schemes and VTS

A VTS system is in place and compulsory for all vessels.

Anchorages

Karumba roadstead, 14nm NW of Fairway Lightbuoy (safe water) (17°26.0'S 140°45.5'E) in depths of 9.0 to 11.0m, mud.

Restrictions

An overhead cable with a safe vertical clearance of 28.9m spans from the Port of Karumba to Norman River at

17°31.7'S 140°49.9'E.

Tugs

There are no tugs available.

Charts and publications

AUS 6, 303. Admiralty Pilot NP13, NP286(4).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Vessel's ETA should be sent to the agent 7 days prior to arrival.

A minimum of 72 hours notice of arrivals, departures and movements should be given.

Communications

VHF: Port: Ch 06.

Pilots and tugs: Ch 16, 06.

Karumba VTS: Ch 12 & 16

Note: There is no manned VHF station at Karumba.

A VHF watch is generally kept on Ch 16 during office hours, Ch 12 should be used in an emergency.

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

Fresh water: Available in limited quantities.

There are no bunkering services available at the port.

Medical

There is a clinic available in Karumba.

Working hours

Port Service Providers available throughout 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Normal business hours: Monday to Friday, 0900 - 1700.

Where it is

The port of Karumba is located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria. The township is 30km N of Normanton and 600km NE of Mount Isa.

The small river port of Karumba stands on the NE side of Norman River about 1.5 miles from the river entrance.

The port

Karumba is accessible by road from both Mount Isa and Cairns.

The existing facilities at Karumba, including wharves, handling and storage facilities are generally privately owned.

The port facilities primarily consist of general cargo, livestock, seafood and petroleum storage and handling facilities.

Traffic

Approx 100,000t of cargo handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Karumba?

The pilot boards at Karumba (Norman River) pilot boarding, 17°21.6′S 140°39.0′E.

What time zone is Karumba in?

Local time at Karumba is UTC+10. No summer time.

What is the water density at Karumba?

Varies from 1025 to 1000 depending on amount of rainfall experienced.

Which load line zone is Karumba in?

South Pacific Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Apr 1 to Nov 30, Summer Dec 1 to Mar 31.

Who carries out Port State Control at Karumba?

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

What is the UN/LOCODE of Karumba?

The UN/LOCODE of Karumba is AUKRB.

What crews who called at Karumba 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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