Passage Planning Guide: Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait 2023/24

This publication has been revised to incorporate the latest guidance and practical advice for ships transiting the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait. All the data contained within this Guide has been reviewed and validated by Auriga Pilots, drawing on their considerable experience in all areas of the Marine Park and beyond.

It offers additional clarity on subjects such as maximum draught, ECDIS, ballast water management and Australian MARPOL areas. This is a valuable resource for any crew navigating the region.

In addition, a companion publication ‘Passage Planning Notes – South of Cairns, Whitsundays and Hydrographers Passage’ has been made freely available to download here. This contains passage notes and chartlets for the following routes:

South of Cairns
Whitsunday Passage
Hydrographers Passage.

The Passage Planning Guide is designed to be used as part of the ship’s pre-entry procedures and as a tool for refreshing the bridge team each time the ship is planning a passage through the GBRTS. This edition has been restructured to consolidate key information for both the Master and the bridge team.

The pull-out chartlets, which now feature satellite imagery and inset photos of key navigational marks, allow the book to be used in real time, enhancing situational awareness and giving the navigator an overview that can be lost on ships where ECDIS is the primary means of navigation.

Updated traffic information, including high density hotspots and case studies based on accident reports, effectively illustrate best navigational practice. New features also include an Auriga Pilot Ladder Checklist, to assist crews in preparing for pilot boarding, and a two-page overview chart of the controlling depths in the Torres Strait.

Additionally, the Guide includes two loose leaf copies of the Pre-Entry Bridge Team Meeting checklist to effectively aid bridge teams in planning their passage of the GBRTS.

SKU: P62468