Shipping

Shipping is largely an international industry that contributes approximately 16 billion dollars to the Australian economy each year. About 6000 ship movements of large vessels occur in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park every year (source: AMSA website), some passing within close proximity to coral reefs and ecologically sensitive areas. Most of these ships use the Inner Shipping Route. Other ships use the Grafton, Palm and Hydrographers Passages to pass from Queensland ports to the Outer Shipping Route.

Shipping under the Zoning Plan

Ships may access the designated Shipping Area and the General Use (Light Blue) Zone without a permit when transiting the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. These areas were selected considering requirement for safe navigation and environmental protection. To access all other areas, ships require a permit. However, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan 2003 allows vessels to access any Zone to locate and secure the safety of a ship endangered by stress of weather or by navigational or operational hazards.

Under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan 2003, a vessel is generally considered to be a ship if it is 50 metres or more in overall length. For a list of all other specialised categories of vessels which are classified as �ships�, refer to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983.

Reports of shipping incidents involving collisions, groundings, fires and other accidents or spills of oil or other wastes should be reported to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (AUSSAR) on 1800 641 792 or GBRMPA on (07) 3830 4919 (quote oil spill).