Pilotage - On Arrival

Ships that are 50m or more within a Queensland pilotage area must carry a licensed marine pilot or be commanded by a master who holds a pilotage exemption certificate for the area.

Maritime Safety Queensland directly provides pilotage services in all Queensland ports except Brisbane, where the service is provided under contract by Brisbane Marine Pilots Pty Ltd.

Size of Vessels & Exemptions

All ships that are 50m or more proceeding within a Queensland pilotage area must either carry a licensed marine pilot or be under the command of a master who holds a pilotage exemption certificate for the area.

All ships 35m in length or more but less than 50m in length arriving at, moving within or departing from a pilotage area must provide notification of the movement to the regional harbour master of the pilotage area. For an initial movement in any 30 day period, at least 24 hours' prior notice of the movement must be given. The period of notification for subsequent movements within the same pilotage area and within 30 days of the initial movement will be determined by the regional harbour master.

Maritime Safety Queensland may grant a master an exemption from pilotage within a declared Queensland pilotage area. An exemption from pilotage will only be endorsed for the master for a particular ship or class of ship for a particular declared pilotage area or part thereof. Exemptions are not available for offshore berths in Queensland, including for the Port of Hay Point. Guidance on the award of a pilotage exemption is available from Maritime Safety Queensland regional harbour masters' offices.
 
Compulsory Pilotage Areas

Certain parts of the state are classified as compulsory pilotage areas such as the inner route of the Great Barrier Reef and Hydrographers Passage. All vessels of 70m or more in length must use the services of a coastal pilot licensed by AMSA*. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has declared a new compulsory pilotage area for the Whitsunday Passage and the Whitsunday and Lindeman Island Groups. Ships of 70m or more in length intending to transit between the Whitsundays and the mainland are required to engage the services of a licensed coastal pilot.
 
Special Conditions

Special conditions may apply in the pilotage areas of Southport, Mackay, Cairns, Cooktown, Port Douglas, Karumba and Thursday Island for ships less than 50m in length. These conditions may be applied to ship movements in specific locations within these pilotage areas, namely marinas and channels with restrictive depths or widths. If applicable, they will be determined by the regional harbour master and provided at the time of the initial notification of arrival. More information about Southport pilotage area.  For further information contact Maritime Safety Queensland regional offices at the Gold Coast, Mackay or Cairns.

For enquiries about pilotage fees, please contact the Maritime Safety Queensland regional harbour master's office nearest the pilotage area.