PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Sydney
Pilot
updated May 2013- Port of Sydney boarding position b Pilot boards33°50.1′S 151°23.0′E
- Sydney Fleet Base East naval pilot boarding Pilot boards33°50.7′S 151°21.7′E
Pilotage is compulsory for all vessels 30m in length or more unless the master holds a PEC (Pilotage Exemption Certificate), and is available throughout 24 hours.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ARRIVAL:
Engines are to be tested before the Pilot boards, if they have not been tested in the previous 24 hours.
Pilot ladders on all vessels, entering or departing Sydney Harbour, are to be rigged in strict accordance with SOLAS regulations and IMPA recommendations. Harbour Control will advise of the height of ladder above water (2.5 to 3m) requirements.
Two proper manropes must be provided at all times.
No tripping lines are to be attached to the pilot ladder below the lowest spreader.
Where the freeboard of the vessel exceeds nine metres and the use of a combined accommodation ladder and pilot ladder is necessary, the lower platform of the accommodation ladder should be about seven metres above the waterline and, together with the pilot ladder and manropes, be secured to the ship's side.
Pilot hoists are not acceptable as an alternative to a combination ladder and may only be used with the agreement of the Harbour Master.
A vessel manoeuvring to pick up a pilot for Sydney Harbour should maintain a speed of about 7kts and steer a course which puts the prevailing swell on the opposite quarter to the side on which the pilot ladder is rigged.
Key data
updated Sep 2021Size limits
LOA 348m, beam 13.7m, draught 13.7m, 119,950DWT.
Water density
1025.
Load line zone
Summer.
Tides
MHWS 1.6m, MHWN 1.3m.
In the approaches the tidal streams set N and S.
In the harbour the outgoing and ingoing streams set NE and NW respectively.
The tidal stream, especially at spring tides, is interrupted by the numerous headlands and bays, causing eddies to shoot off the points, partly into adjoining bays and partly into the fairway.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glebe Island | — | 231 m | 4 |
| Viva Energy - Gore Cove Terminal | 12.60 m | 256 m | 3 |
| Chowder Bay (Navy) | — | 176 m | 1 |
| Snails Bay | — | — | 4 |
| White Bay Cruise Terminal | — | 385 m | 5 |
| Darling Harbour | — | 300 m | 2 |
| Overseas Passenger Terminal | — | 348 m | 1 |
| Garden Island | — | — | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated May 2013Approach
Sydney Harbour is approached through Sydney Heads (least depth 24.4m), which form the entrance to Port Jackson, and entered between Middle Head (33°49.1'S 151°16.1'E) and S Head, through either Western (main channel, width 210m, depth 13.7m) or Eastern Channel (width 180m, depth 10.5m). The entrance to the port is for the most part steep-to on each side. The bottom is sand and silt.
The entrance is clear of dangers but, although there are depths of 20m within 0.1nm of the N shore, the sea generally breaks heavily on the cliffs.
Entrance Leading Lights: The alignment (294°) of Grotto Point Light and Rosherville Light lead through the centre of the Traffic Separation Line in the entrance.
Port limits
The port limits extend to the arc of a circle 4.0nm from Hornby Light, South Head.
Traffic schemes and VTS
All vessels of LOA 30m and over are required to participate in the VTS. Vessels towing, or pushing a tow, where the combined length of tug and tow is equal to, or greater than, 30m are considered to be participating vessels.
Information Broadcasts: Harbour Control transmits expected shipping movements, navigational warnings, weather and tidal information every hour after the 'silent period' on VHF Ch 13.
Regulations are in force to separate inbound from outbound traffic in the approach to Port Jackson within an area bounded by a line drawn 090° from outer North head, a line drawn 130° from Hornby Light on South head and the arc of a circle, radius 4nm centred on the light. Anchorage within the above area is prohibited.
Area 'A' is defined as that part of the above area N of the 293.9° leading line; Area 'B', is defined as the part S of the leading line. Only vessels entering the port may pass through area 'A' and only vessels leaving may pass through area 'B'.
Anchorages
There are a number of anchorages and moorings within Sydney Harbour available for commercial shipping. Anchoring inside port limits must be approved by the Harbour Master. There are several naval moorings E of Garden Island.
Anchorage is prohibited within 0.1nm of any wharf or jetty in any position which may obstruct vessel traffic and also in the vicinity of submarine cables and pipelines.
Bank Anchorage No 1, depth 13.7m
Bank anchorage No 2, depth 13.7m
Triangle anchorage, depth 12.8m
Watson's Bay Anchorage 10.5m.
Restrictions
The gantry, when in use, is marked by a blue light at each end. A red obstruction light is exhibited at an elevation of 138m above the centre of the bridge.
Pyrmont Bridge marks the southern boundary of Darling Harbour and is not normally open to commercial shipping.
The Glebe Island Bridge crosses the entrance to Rozelle Bay/Blackwattle Bay and shall remain in the open position for the passage of a vessel unless exempted by the Harbour Master and supported by a Marine Notice to that effect. Clear opening through the swing spans is 18.8m. When closed, the clear headway under the swing span varies from 4.9m at the inner end to 6.8m at the outer end.
The Anzac Bridge is located close to the S of the Glebe Island Bridge. It is a single span fixed arch bridge with a max clearance to 27m above low water.
The eastern (Pyrmont) channel is open to one way traffic controlled by navigation traffic lights. The western channel is closed to all commercial and recreational traffic.
BRIDGES (HORIZONTAL CLEARANCE):
Old Glebe Island Bridge directly NE of the Anzac Bridge is a swing bridge which is fixed open, navigable passage 18m wide on its E side only. Lights are displayed from the inner and outer ends. Marine traffic lights in operation.
Charts and publications
Aus 197, 200, 201, 202, 203. Admiralty Pilot NP14, NP286(4).
Reporting before arrival
updated May 2013ETA and pre-arrival notices
Customs arrival message to be sent 96 hours before arrival, see details in Country Information.
Documents
Sydney Ports operates an internet based computerised system ("ShiPS") which coordinates vessel movement schedules, bookings and port service providers.
Health
A quarantine officer will board the vessel as soon as possible and carry out an inspection. The granting of pratique does not release a vessel's cargo from quarantine, all international goods including ballast water, cargo and crew/passenger effects must be cleared through quarantine before being imported into Australia.
Ship Sanitation Control Certificate and Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate issued.
Customs and immigration
Sydney is a First Port of Entry.
Inspections
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
Port services
updated Jan 2023Repairs
Major repairs can be carried out.
Dry docks
Several slipways available, the largest with a capacity of 710t.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available at berths with a rate of 30tph. Can also be supplied by tugs to vessels at anchor or moored to buoys.
Bunkering: A full range is available from Shell, BP, Caltex, Mobil and Esso. Delivered by pipeline at the tanker berths, elsewhere by barge and road tanker. (Heavy fuel oil by barge, light fuel and lub oil by tanker).
Stores: Available.
Medical
Sydney Hospital, 1km.
Transport
Nearest airport: Kingsford Smith International, Sydney, 8km.
Airport facilities: Freight and passenger services.
Nearest railway: Central Station, Sydney, 2.5km. Berths at White Bay and Balmain are connected to the State Railway system.
Working hours
Throughout 24 hours worked in 3 shifts.
About Sydney
updated Aug 2018Where it is
The port of Sydney is located on the E coast of Australia.
The port
A natural harbour, with a substantial amount of ferry traffic, the port of Sydney includes the Sub Port areas of Ball's Head, Ballast Point, Balmain, Berry's Bay, Blackwattle Bay, Darling Harbour, Glebe Island, Gore Bay, Port Jackson, Pyrmont, Snail's Bay, Sydney Cove and White Bay.
With the expansion of nearby Botany Bay Harbour commercial terminals, cruise liners and tourism have become the major economic activity for Sydney Harbour. Cargo still includes petroleum products, dry bulk, vehicles, general cargo and some containerised goods. Botany Bay is expected to handle most of Sydney's cargo activity within the next few years.
Traffic
Approx 1,300,000t of cargo, 2,500,000TEU and 1,900 vessels call handled annually.
Questions about Sydney
Where does the pilot board at Sydney?
The pilot boards at Port of Sydney boarding position b, 33°50.1′S 151°23.0′E. Sydney has 2 pilot boarding places.
What time zone is Sydney in?
Local time at Sydney 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 Sydney?
The deepest berth listed is at Viva Energy - Gore Cove Terminal: 12.60 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Sydney?
1025.
Which load line zone is Sydney in?
Summer.
Who carries out Port State Control at Sydney?
Port State Control at Sydney: Tokyo MOU, Indian Ocean MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Sydney?
The UN/LOCODE of Sydney is AUSYD.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Sydney 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.
A planning aid, not for navigation. These facts come from public sources and each section shows how old it is. Check with the port, your agent, your ENCs and official publications. Spotted something wrong? Tell us on the feedback board.