Port Botany (AUPBT)

Port Botany and Kurnell are areas of Botany Bay. The recent history of Port Botany stems from the port of Sydney's need to cater for the growth in container trades. Port Botany was, at first, administered as one unit with Sydney, but increasing traffic volumes has led to the Terminal's position as New South Wales principal container and petrochemical port. Kurnell handles crude oil imports and petroleum products for the oil refinery.

Summer.

Port Botany is located 10.5nm SE of the entrance to Sydney harbour on the N side of Botany Bay. On the S side lies the sub-port of Kurnell.

LOA 336m, draught 15.2m, beam 48.4m,117,170DWT

Approx 5,300,000t of cargo, 3,000,000TEU and 1,400 vessels handled annually.

There are no anchorages available inside the port limits. Waiting vessels are recommended to drift off port, keeping a close watch on weather and current conditions. There are no recommended safe anchorages off the coast for vessels waiting to enter Sydney Harbour or Port Botany. Anchoring is at the discretion of the Master, however, it is highly recommended that vessels remain at least 3.0nm from the coastline and outside port limits.

Vessels bound for Port Botany should keep to the N of the port entrance leads, well clear of the outward traffic area "Delta". Depths in approach channels are as follows: The entrance channel is 213m wide and dredged to a minimum depth of 15.0m, the swinging basin at Brotherson Dock has been dredged to 14.4m, the bottom is sand. Hayes Dock: Navigable channel area has been extended to include passage to new port area, to include new Berths 1 to 4 and new berths 5 and 6 in W area of Brotherson Dock (The Knuckle). Channel to Kurnell berths and swinging basin has 11.9m minimum depth. Caution: Coastline in the vicinity of Botany Bay is more lower lying than at Sydney and there is dangerous shoal water to the N side of the entrance. Kingsford Smith International Airport: The E extension runway extends 1.5nm SSE to a point 0.8nm WSW of Port Botany, the E side and head of which are marked by light beacons.

Aus 197, 198, 808. Admiralty Pilot NP14, NP286(4). NP38 Admiralty List of Lights and Fog Signals Volume K, AHP 11 Australian National Tide Tables.

1025.

MBM: Mooring by 2 anchors and 2 swamp moorings fore and 5 buoys aft.

Pilotage is compulsory for all vessels 30m in length or more unless the master holds a PEC (Pilotage Exemption Certificate), and is available throughout 24 hours. ..... ARRIVING VESSELS: 1. Preliminary arrangements for a pilot must be made through a local agent accredited by the Port Corporation. 2. After radio contact has been established with an in-bound vessel on VHF Ch 13, the Pilot will then use Ch 06 for boarding and operating instructions. 3. Vessels are not permitted inside the port limits or to proceed inshore of the Pilot Boarding Place without the approval of the pilot or Harbour Control. 4. Pilot boarding area is 34°01.2'S 151°18.8'E (4.0nm due E of Cape Solander). Pilot ground: Because of the frequent presence of swell and its changing pattern close to the port entrances, no arriving vessel should proceed inshore 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. Port Botany Pilots operate from a base in Brotherson Dock and will call on VHF Ch 13, approximately 20 minutes before the pilot booking time, on the way out to sea to meet an approaching vessel. The service is available throughout 24 hours. REQUIREMENTS FOR ARRIVAL: Engines are to be tested before the Pilot boards, if they have not been tested in the previous 24 hours. Pilot ladders on all vessels, entering or departing Port Botany, are to be rigged in strict accordance with SOLAS regulations and IMPA recommendations. Harbour Control will advise of the height of ladder above water (2.5 to 3m) requirements. Two proper manropes must be provided at all times. No tripping lines are to be attached to the pilot ladder below the lowest spreader. Where the freeboard of the vessel exceeds nine metres and the use of a combined accommodation ladder and pilot ladder is necessary, the lower platform of the accommodation ladder should be about seven metres above the waterline and, together with the pilot ladder and manropes, be secured to the ship's side. Pilot hoists are not acceptable as an alternative to a combination ladder and may only be used with the agreement of the Harbour Master. A vessel manoeuvring to pick up a pilot for Port Botany should maintain a speed of about 7kts and steer a course which puts the prevailing swell on the opposite quarter to the side on which the pilot ladder is rigged. ..... DEPARTING VESSELS: 1. On boarding, the Pilot will contact Sydney Ports VTS on VHF Ch 13 to confirm the vessels readiness to depart and to request departure clearance. The vessel will maintain radio communication from this time. 2. Exempt Masters should contact Sydney Ports VTS 15 mins prior to departure to confirm readiness to depart and to request departure clearance. 3. Immediately prior to departure, the vessel should contact Sydney Ports VTS on Ch 13 for final departure clearance.

The waters of Botany Bay and of all bays, rivers and their tributaries connected to or leading to Botany Bay bounded by MHW mark and by, as upstream boundaries, the E side of the Endeavour Bridge in Cooks River and the E side of the Captain Cook Bridge in Georges River together with that part of the Tasman Sea below MHW mark enclosed by the arc of a circle of radius 4nm having as its centre the navigation light at Henry Head.

Kingsford Smith International Airport Aero Light (Occasional) (33°56.9'S 151° 10.1'E). Glenfield Aero Radio Beacon/DGPS: (33°59.0'S 150°59.0'E).

Kurnell Oil Terminal: Berthing at the alongside berths is to be made in daylight hours only. Main engines must be ready at all times in case vessel is required to vacate the berth at short notice. There is a restricted area around Brotherson Dock and the Bulk Liquid Berths and their approaches. UKC: A min UKC of 1.0m is required at all the terminal berths. ..... Submarine Pipelines and Cables: 1. Pipeline laid from the middle of Kurnell Pier (33°00.1'S 151°12.6'E) NW for approx 0.4nm and then to the N end of Yarra Bay. 2. Cable and two pipelines laid from the head of Kurnell Pier to Kurnell No 3 Berth. 3. Oil pipeline 0.2nm NW of Yarra Point, extending 0.4nm WSW from the NE side of Yarra Bay. 4. Oil pipeline extending 0.4nm SW from Yarra Point. Anchoring is prohibited in this area (see latest chart). 5. Oil pipeline (0.1nm SE of Yarra Point) extending 0.2nm SSW from the N side of Frenchmans Bay

HW springs 1.6m, HW neaps 1.3m. Tidal streams: both ingoing and outgoing, set through the entrance to Botany Bay at a rate of 1.5kts. During heavy rain the outgoing stream is much accelerated.

Sydney Ports VTS (Harbour Control) operates within the following areas: ..... Botany: From the port limits to a line from Bonna Point (34°00.47'S 151° 11.25'E) to the Georges River Channel Pile (33°59.46'S 151°09.39'E) Sydney: From the port limits to Longnose Point (33°50.76'S 151°11.12'E) excluding Middle Harbour W of Dobroyd Head (34°48.75'S 151°16.38'E). Sydney Ports VTS operate a Traffic Organisation Service requiring participating vessels to seek clearance to enter, leave, or move within the VTS area to report when passing Reporting Points. They will: ..... 1. Monitor all movements of vessels in the VTS area. 2. Provide vessel movement updates and information. 3. Direct vessels as required. 4. Provide an efficient communications base during any emergency situations which may develop in the port and surrounding areas. 5. Advise mariners on the initiation, continuation and termination of activities within the port area which may affect the safe passage of vessels. 6. Provide navigation information and warnings to mariners. All vessels of LOA 30m and over are required to participate in the VTS. Vessels towing, or pushing a tow, where the combined length of tug and tow is equal to, or greater than, 30m are considered to be participating vessels. Reporting Points: Vessels entering and leaving Port Botany, unless fitted with AIS, are required to report to VTS on Ch 13, when reaching the following positions. ..... 1. 34°00.5'S 151°14.3'E (S of Henry Head) 2. 33°59.3'S 151°12.6'E (S of Molineux Pt) Outward bound vessels, unless fitted with AIS, are also required to report to VTS at the following position: 33°59.4'S 151°09.8'E (N of Towra Pt) outward bound only. PROCEDURE: Vessels Inbound: 1. Vessels should maintain watch of VHF Ch 12 and confirm their position and ETA to Sydney Ports VTS when 2hrs and 1hr from the Pilot boarding position. 2. Sydney Ports VTS provide navigational, weather, tidal and shipping movement information on VHF Ch 13 at 5mins past each hour of the day. Masters are requested to monitor these broadcasts when approaching the port to familiarise themselves with local traffic movements. 3. Vessels must obtain clearance from Sydney Ports VTS prior to entering port. 4. Vessels should contact Sydney Ports VTS on berthing or brought up to anchor. Vessels Outbound: Vessels should call Sydney Ports VTS 1hr before ETD for permission to proceed.

Two private tug companies with a fleet of modern tugs.

Prevailing winds: W'ly. In Botany Bay, during settled weather, the sea breeze is well developed by day, especially during summer, and the land breeze blows at night, especially in winter. The "S'ly Bluster" (the line squall which quite often accompanies the passage of a cold front), although of short duration, reaches gale force in bursts and is an important feature in the summer. Strong winds from the E and S in the autumn and early winter are associated with depressions off the coast in the N part of the Tasman Sea. Strong W winds blow in winter and early spring. Visibility is generally good but fog and misty rain sometimes occurs and occasionally dust and smoke may impair visibility. The bay is exposed to the SE swell and rough conditions may occur with the wind from any quarter. Sudden changes in sea and weather conditions may occur at any time of the year and it may become necessary to leave harbour at short notice.

..... VTS: VHF: Ch 16, 12, 13. Callsign: "Sydney Ports VTS" Tel: +61 2 9296 4000. Fax: +61 2 9247 7804. Email: vts@sydneyports.com.au Pilot (24hrs): Tel: +61 2 9296 4999. Fax: +61 2 9296 4744. Email: pilotenquiries@sydneyports.com.au Pilot Boarding: VHF: Ch 06. Tugs: VHF: Ch 08, 10, 68, 69, 72. Harbour Master: Tel: +61 2 9296 4650, Fax: +61 2 9296 4744. Email: harbourmaster@sydneyports.com.au Port Authority: Tel: +61 2 9296 4999, Fax: +61 2 9296 4742. Email: enquiries@sydneyports.com. Website: http://www.sydneyports.com.au Port Botany Container Terminals: DP World Tel: +61 2 9394 0900, Fax: +61 2 9394 0955. Patrick Port Botany Tel: +61 2 8333 6301, Fax: +61 2 8333 6259. Hutchison Ports Sydney Tel: +61 2 9578 8500

Port Botany is a First Port of Entry. The Australian Customs Service have a Container Examination Facility (Gate B15) for inspection of sea cargo, using x-ray scanning. Containers can be packed and unpacked at the site.

Sydney Ports operates an internet based computerised system ("ShiPS") which coordinates vessel movement schedules, bookings and port service providers. ..... The ShiPS system operates 24hrs, 7 days a week, and includes: 1. Agents to book pilots, tugs and linesmen. 2. Agents to lodge applications for work permits and bunkers. 3. Agents and freight forwarders to make dangerous goods lodgements. 4. Port service providers to confirm their ability to provide services. 5. Sydney Ports providing dangerous goods information to emergency services. 6. Stevedores, government agencies and associated industries to view vessel schedules. Use of ShiPS is a compulsory requirement for all accredited agents and service providers so all movement bookings, work or bunker permit applications and dangerous goods lodgements should be via this system (For information: Tel: +61 2 9296 4800, Fax: +61 2 9296 4812, Email: shipping@sydneyports.com.au). The documents required for Customs, Immigration and Quarantine department formalities may be summarised as follows: ..... Document 1. Ship Pre Arrival Report (Customs Form 13) 2. Crew Report (Customs Form 3B) 3. Passenger Report (Customs Form 2A) 4. Passenger Report (Customs Form 2B) 5. Advanced Person Processing (APP) of crew and passengers list to be submitted electronically to Immigration Web site www.immi.gov.au/sea 6. Quarantine Pre-arrival Report for Vessels (QPAR) - (AQIS Form 006) 7. Additional Quarantine Pre-Arrival Report for Cruise liners and Navy Vessels (AQIS Form 028) 8. Live Plants Vessel Log.(Attached to AQIS Form 028) 9. Notification of Sign-off if any (Customs Form B521) 10. Notification of Sign-on if any (Customs Form B522) 11. Load Goods (other than cargo) onto ship (Customs Form 43) 12. Remove Goods (other than cargo) from ship (Customs Form 44) 13. Ballast Water Log to Quarantine (AQIS Form 026) 14. Crew Effects Declaration (Customs Form 5 Part Two) 15. Report of Ship's Stores (Customs Form 5 Part Four) See Country section for full details of visa and entry requirements.

Customs arrival message to be sent 96 hours before arrival, see details in Country Information. ..... Masters of inbound vessels are requested to send their 4hr ETA notice by email to Sydney Ports VTS (vts@sydneyports.com.au) stating: 1. ETA 2. Arrival draught (forward and aft) 3. Displacement on arrival. 4. Confirmation that bow thruster, if fitted, is fully operational. On receipt of the 4hr ETA notice from a vessel, Sydney Ports VTS will advise (by return email) a Pilot boarding time and give information on a pilot ladder. The vessel will then be requested to call Sydney Ports VTS on VHF Ch 12 when 2hrs from the Pilot Boarding Area. (See also Pilot and VTS sections).

All vessels under the conduct of a licensed pilot or exempt Master are requested to briefly test their thrusters (if any) and engines astern before entering Port Limits. The Corporation will accept testing of the ships main engines astern within 24 hours of their arrival at Sydney ports provided such testing can be supported by a main engine data logger readout. The Master of any vessel shall forthwith advise Harbour Control if any or a combination of any of the following circumstances exist: ..... 1. such vessel is, or is believed to be, in a disabled or leaking condition a. any part of such vessel or its cargo is on fire b. in the case of a vessel entering the port, if a fire has occurred in such vessel during the passage to Botany Bay Prior to port transits, vessels, in addition to other requirements, shall undertake a Master/pilot information exchange. Whilst undertaking port transits, the attention of the Master of a vessel is drawn to the following: 1. Appropriate and efficient Bridge Resource Management is practiced a. the Master and at least one deck officer is in attendance on the bridge at all times b. the vessel is steered by a helmsman Due to local conditions at the pilot boarding area and the inability of tugs to rig a pilot ladder in accordance with IMO requirements, tugs with tows will only be boarded during daylight hours. Tugs without tows will be assessed on a case by case basis. Area "C" is that part of the area N of the main leads bearing 312°, only vessels entering the port may pass through this area. Only vessels leaving port may pass through the prohibited anchorage area S of the main leads, designated area "D".

Issue of Ship Sanitation Control Certificate and Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificates possible. All vessels arriving from overseas should submit a pratique form within 12-48 hours before arrival at a port. When pratique has been granted the vessel should proceed directly to the berth or designated place as directed in the pre-arrival communication. A quarantine officer will board the vessel as soon as possible and carry out an inspection. The granting of pratique does not release a vessel's cargo from quarantine, all international goods including ballast water, cargo and crew/passenger effects must be cleared through quarantine before being imported into the country.

The following is a standard message sent to the Master of a vessel, prior to arrival at port. quote: Australian Customs Service - Ships Arrival Details The vessel ............... will be arriving at .................. on (day) ................ date ................ at ............... hours. The following particulars of the vessel: ..... 1. Previous name ...................... 2. Lloyds No ...................... 3. Official No ...................... 4. Country of Registration ...................... 5. Type of vessel ...................... 6. Last visit to Australia ...................... 7. Animals onboard ...................... 8. Does Master hold valid Identity documents for all crew ...................... 9. Number of passengers (if applicable) ...................... 10. Last 4 overseas ports of call i. ..................... ii. ..................... iii. ..................... iv. ..................... 11. Ship's certificates Safety Radio ..................... Safety Construction ..................... Load Line ..................... IOPP ..................... Oil vessel ..................... (vessels carrying more than 2,000t oil as cargo) 12. Intended date of departure .................... Note: To be lodged at Customs Marine Centre, with a copy of the Crew List, 96 hours prior to the vessel's arrival. unquote