Shipping

Technical Information Sheet # 19

Published 2002

This page contains background and history of the Representative Areas Program.

View current Zoning information.

Shipping in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

Shipping in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (the Marine Park) contributes some $16 billion of economic activity to the Australian community each year.

Some 6,000 ships transit the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) each year.

The Great Barrier Reef was declared to be a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in 1990. Improved management measures have been instituted by the Commonwealth and State Governments which have included the introduction of:

Compulsory pilotage in specified areas of the Marine Park;
The mandatory Torres Strait and Great Barrier Reef Ship Reporting System (REEFREP) to enhance navigational safety of ships entering the reporting area; and
Restrictions on vessel waste discharges including oil and chemical pollution, ballast water, garbage and litter.

The Draft Zoning Plan provides for the following initiatives for shipping:

A broader definition, based on that used for REEFREP, which defines a �ship� as:
a)All vessels 50 metres or greater in overall length; and/or
b)All oil tankers, liquefied gas carriers, chemical tankers or ships coming within the INF Code, regardless of length; and/or
c)Vessels engaged in towing or pushing where the towing or pushing vessel or the towed or pushed vessel is a vessel prescribed within the categories shown above or where the length of the tow, measured from the stern of the towing vessel to the after end of the tow, exceeds 150 metres; and/or
Vessels that are adapted to carry bulk oil and/or chemicals in cargo spaces and vessels other than oil tankers i.e. vessels fitted with cargo spaces which are constructed and utilised to carry oil in bulk of an aggregate capacity of 200 cubic metres or more.
Continued access to General Use Zones (GUZs, shown light blue on the zoning map) and existing shipping routes through an extension of designated Shipping Areas;
Exemption for private recreational vessels greater than 50 metres to access all areas of the Marine Park except Preservation (Pink) Zones;
Streamlined procedures for the construction and maintenance of navigation aids by the Commonwealth and Queensland;
A category of �managed vessels or aircraft�, which due to their speed, noise, or other environmental impacts require a permit for operation in the Marine Park. This category includes hovercraft, Wing-in-Ground effect vessels, and hydrofoils;
Access for any zone to locate and secure the safety of a ship endangered by stress of weather or by navigational or operational hazards;
Allow the GBRMPA to designate Special Management Areas in an emergency to promote improved management of and rapid response to maritime incidents and vessel salvage (See �Special Management Areas� Information Sheet); and
Provide opportunities to obtain a permit for ships to access virtually all areas of the Marine Park for special �one off� activities (e.g. barges, dredging for special projects etc.) subject to the activity being consistent with the Zone objectives.

The designated Shipping Areas, as described in the Draft Zoning Plan and shown on the RAP website (http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au), include the current vessel usage patterns in the Marine Park. Shipping Areas shown in the GUZ are indicative only and do not, by way of the Draft Zoning Plan, restrict the navigation of ships anywhere in the GUZ.

If required, the GBRMP Regulations may be used to subsequently designate additional Shipping Areas.

Vessels up to 50 metres are not subject to the zoning provisions for ships and may generally access the Marine Park subject to zoning provisions.