Pilotage is compulsory for all commercial shipping not exempted by the Marine Safety Act 1998.
Preliminary arrangements for a Pilot must be made through a local agent registered with the Port Corporation.
The Pilot, prior to boarding, will initially establish radio contact on VHF Channel 13 with the vessel, then use Channel 6 as the working channel for boarding instructions and for the boarding operation.
The Pilot Boarding Ground for Sydney Harbour is four nautical miles east of Hornby Lighthouse (33º 50’24”S 151º 21’38”E)
The Pilot Boarding Ground for Port Botany is four nautical miles east of Cape Solander (34º 01’12”S 151º18’42”E).