Approximately 6,000 ship movements of large vessels in excess of 50 metres in length occur within the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait region every year. Most of these vessels use the inner route with the rest entering or departing through Hydrographers, Palm and Grafton Passages. Most vessels using the Great Barrier Reef are bulk carriers carrying significant tonnages of export cargo. It is estimated that around 20per cent of vessels transit the inner route of the Great Barrier Reef without calling at a north Queensland port. Most vessels using the GBR are bulk carriers (42per cent) carrying significant tonnages of export cargo, including coal, bauxite, nickel ores, raw sugar, alumina and silica sand. The major bulk ports are Hay Point, Abbot Point and Gladstone. Between 5per cent and 10per cent of ships are oil tankers, with most on northerly transits, either in ballast or carrying refined product to service Queensland ports north of Brisbane. Remaining trading vessel traffic consists of container vessels (24per cent), general cargo (22per cent) and other types.

---

Citation and/or URL

Charts and map compiled using data from the Australian Marine Safety Authority and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

Spatial Coverage

GBR-wide

Temporal Coverage

Map: 2006

Graphs: 1997-2007 

Update Frequency

Annual

Other Information

None