Port Huon

Size limits

Max LOA 116.20m, beam 23m, draught 8m and 12,000DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Southern Winter Seasonal Zone, Winter Apr 16 to Oct 15, Summer Oct 16 to Apr 15.

Tides

Tides at Hobart are irregular, the max rise and fall being 1.43m. Annual tidal predications for Hobart and Spring Bay are available from the Marine Board and predicted times and heights are also published in the Australian National Tide Tables.

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

Approach

From a position about 9nm S of Cape Bruny (43°30'S., 147°09'E) the route leads N and NNE, for a distance of about 40nm, through D'Entrecasteaux Channel, passing between South Bruny Island (43°25'S., 147°15'E), North Bruny Island and the mainland to the entrance of South Deep Bay, leading to Hospital Bay and the berths on the NE and SW sides. The approach channel has a least depth of 9m.

Port limits

D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Huon River and Port Huon lie within the port limits of Hobart. The S limit of the port of Hobart, within the area covered by this section, is an imaginary line, drawn 052° from Southport Bluff (43°29'S., 147°00'E) to the NW end of Labillardiere Peninsula, 5.25nm NE.

Traffic schemes and VTS

A VTS system is in place for all vessels with an LOA over 35m and operating within the TasPorts VTS and greater area. Hobart VTS area covers Hobart, Port Arthur, Port Huon and the D'Entrecasteaux channel.

Restrictions

Under Keel Clearance: Vessels must maintain a static under keel clearance of 0.3m at all times while alongside a berth and manoeuvring. Vessel must maintain a minimum UKC of 0.9m while navigating in the Hobart Pilotage Area, this may be increased for deep draught vessels when a swell is running at the Iron Pot Bar.

Speed: Max speed in the Hobart Pilotage Area is 12kts.

The ruins of a jetty lies close SE to a T-jetty, adjacent to the Port Huon Wharf. Within the harbour of the port are marine farms and as a result vessels must take caution.

Tugs

For Port Huon 2 tugs are required for berthing vessels of LOA 125m to 150m. There are 5 tugs operated by Tasports North Western Shipping and Towage Company to assist vessels when berthing and unberthing.

All tugs are provided with VHF Ch 16, 12, 08 and 06.

Charts and publications

Admiralty Pilot NP14, NP286(5).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

ETA should be advised to Hobart Port Control 24 hours prior to arrival. Final ETA should be sent 6 hours before arrival. The messages should include the vessel's name and time of arrival at the pilot boarding ground.

Communications

Radio: Melbourne Radio (VIM), maintains a 24 hour listening watch on the following frequencies: HF 2182, 4125, 6215.5, 8291kHz, VHF Ch 16 and 67, Seaphone channels VHF Ch 07 and 27.

Weather forecasts are transmitted daily as follows: 0403, 0803, 2003hrs (UTC) on the HF traffic list frequencies.

Hobart Port Control contact info

VHF: Ch 12, 16.

When contact has been satisfactorily established all traffic must be passed through Ch 12. Vessels can usually establish contact on VHF Ch 16 at ranges in excess of 50nm from Hobart. This range is extended for vessels passing to the E of Tasmania where contact can be established near Maria Island.

Small Craft Radio: Voluntary small craft radio stations are located near North West Bay and at Dunalley on the Tasman Peninsula. These stations maintain a listening watch on VHF Ch 16 and HF.

Weather forecasts: Ch 67 at 0845hrs, 1345hrs, 1845hrs and 2145hrs, local time.

VTS contact info

Call sign: Hobart VTS

VHF: Ch 12, 16

Pilot contact info

VHF: Ch 08

Standard messages

Note: To be lodged at Customs Marine Centre, with a copy of the Crew List, 96 hours prior to the vessel's arrival.

unquote

Health

A vessel approaching the port and requiring pratique, should reply to a radio questionnaire to the Quarantine Office, not more than 24 hours and not less than 12 hours prior to arrival.

On arrival the health report should be given to the Quarantine Officer, two copies being furnished on the prescribed form "Q360", one of which will be signed by the Quarantine Officer and returned to the Master. A passenger list, together with a list of passengers disembarking including their permanent address within the country is also required.

The facsimile number of the Quarantine Department is Tel: +61 2 346785.

Radio Pratique will be granted to vessels which forward satisfactory answers to the radio questionnaire. Vessels granted radio pratique may berth on arrival without requiring the boarding of a Quarantine Officer. Radio Pratique is granted for the first port of entry. The vessel and persons onboard are released from Quarantine. All goods remain subject to quarantine. A complete health report is required before free pratique is granted and this is obtained whilst the vessel is in port.

If radio pratique is not granted the vessel will be boarded on arrival. The appropriate day or night quarantine signal should be displayed until clearance is obtained.

Customs and immigration

Requests for the services of Customs Officers should be made through vessels Agents.

Vessels wishing to lower their own lifeboats must receive permission from Customs Boarding Officers.

Notices and regulations

By-laws are made by Marine and Safety, Tasmania and administered by local port corporations.

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.

Medical

Nearest hospital: Calvary St John's Hospital (39.8km), Calvary Lenah Valley Hospital (42.2km) and Royal Hobart Hospital (42.45km).

Transport

Nearest airport: Hobart International Airport (HBA) (56.2km).

Nearest highway: Port has access to A6 which travels N to Hobart and S to Hastings.

Nearest public transport: Bus routes throughout Port Huon.

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours.

Where it is

Port Huon is located on the Huon River, near Geeveston, approx 50km by road to Hobart, Tasmania.

The port

The private port, formerly used to ship apples, is owned and operated by Huon Aquaculture for the transport of salmon.

What time zone is Port Huon in?

Local time at Port Huon 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 Port Huon?

The deepest berth listed is at Port Huon Wharf: 8.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Port Huon?

1025.

Which load line zone is Port Huon in?

Southern Winter Seasonal Zone, Winter Apr 16 to Oct 15, Summer Oct 16 to Apr 15.

Who carries out Port State Control at Port Huon?

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

What is the UN/LOCODE of Port Huon?

The UN/LOCODE of Port Huon is AUPHU.

What crews who called at Port Huon 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.

Read and add tips for Port Huon →