ALL ABOUT NAVIGATION

Navigating to Sydney Harbour
Latitude: 33O 50' South;
Longitude: 151O 22' East.
References: Admiralty Sailing Directions: "Australia Pilot VOL II, 7th Edition 1999; NSW Coast, 10th Edition 1983; Port Procedures for Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay, incorporating port operations and navigational information for all ships approaching the ports (Published by and available from the Sydney Ports Corporation).
Charts: Approaches Port Jackson - AUS 197; Port Jackson - AUS200; Sydney Harbour - AUS201, 202, 203.
Port Limit Seaward: The arc of a circle four nautical miles radius from Hornsby Light situated on South Head.
Approach: The port has two separate channels: the Western Channel, 210 metres wide with a minimum depth of 13.7 metres, and the Eastern Channel, 180 metres wide with a minimum depth of 10.5 metres. An under-keel clearance of 10 per cent of draught is required.
Tides (Fort Denison): High Water Springs 1.6m; High Water Neaps 1.3m.
Communications: A continuous watch is kept by the Port Operations and Communications Centre on VHF Channels 16 and 12 (call sign "Harbour Control").
All traffic movements and approval for entry or departure are controlled from the Centre on Channel 13 (call sign "Harbour Control").
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Navigating to Botany Bay
Latitude: 34O 01' South
Longitude: 151O 19' East
References: Australia Pilot VOL II, 7th Edition 1999; NSW Coast, 10th Edition 1983; Port Procedures for Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay, incorporating port operations and navigational information for all ships approaching the ports (Published by and available from the Sydney Ports Corporation).
Charts: Approaches Botany Bay and Port Hacking - AUS198; Botany Bay - AUS199.
Port Limits Seaward: The arc of a circle four nautical miles radius from Cape Banks.
Approach: Channel to Kurnell berths and swinging basin has 12.2 metres minimum depth. Channel to the new port area (Brotherson Dock) is 213 metres wide and dredged to a minimum depth of 17.9 metres; the swinging basin in the new port area has been dredged to 14.4 metres.
Tides: High Water Springs 1.6m; High Water Neaps 1.3m.
Communications: A continuous watch is kept by the Sydney Ports Operations and Communications Centre on VHF Channels 16 and 12 (call sign "Harbour Control"). All traffic movements and approval for entry or departure are controlled from the Centre on Channel 13 (call sign "Harbour Control").
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Approaching Sydney Ports
  • To facilitate the boarding of the pilot it is important that approaching vessels comply fully with the SPC's requirement to confirm their ETA for Sydney Harbour or Botany Bay, three (3) hours and again one (1) hour before arrival on VHF Channel 12
  • When the vessel is five miles from the pilot boarding ground, contact should be established with "Harbour Control" on VHF channel 13.
  • All approaching vessels are tracked by radar as they close the port areas, which extend four miles to seaward of the entrances.
  • Because of the frequent presence of swell and its changing pattern close to the port entrances, no arriving vessel should proceed west of the pilot boarding ground without the approval of the pilot. The master must ensure that sufficient sea-room is maintained to allow room for manoeuvres to provide a proper lee for the pilot cutter.
  • Instructions for vessels navigating in the Sydney ports are given in the SPC publication "Port Procedures Guide for Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay".
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Arriving at Sydney Ports
Sydney Harbour
  • The pilot boarding ground for Sydney Harbour is four (4) sea miles due east from the Hornsby Lighthouse on South Head, at the outer edge of port area "Alpha".
  • Vessels bound for Sydney Harbour should keep well to the north of the separation zone, delineated by the entrance leads line, and of the outward traffic area "Bravo".
  • The Sydney pilot cutter operates from the Pilot Station in Watsons Bay, just inside the harbour entrance. The pilot cutter will call on VHF channel 13, about twenty (20) minutes before the pilot booking time, on the way out to sea to meet an entering vessel.
Botany Bay
  • The pilot boarding ground for Botany Bay is four (4) sea miles due east from Cape Solander, at the outer edge of port area "Charlie".
  • Vessels bound for Botany Bay should keep to the north of the port entrance leads, well clear of the outward traffic area "Delta".
  • Coastline in the vicinity of Botany Bay is lower lying than at Sydney and there is dangerous shoal water to the northern side of the entrance.
  • The Botany Bay pilot cutter operates from a base in Brotherson Dock and will call on VHF channel 13, about twenty (20) minutes before the pilot booking time, on the way out to sea to meet an entering vessel.
  • Shipping operations in Botany Bay frequently require departure of a berthed vessel to make way for an inbound ship. Information regarding unexpected, last-minute delays may be passed to an arriving vessel either by "Harbour Control" or from the pilot aboard the cutter. It is important for vessels arriving at Botany Bay to keep a careful VHF radio-watch on channels 12 and 13.
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