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Great Barrier Reef Shipping: Review of Environmental Implications

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Great Barrier Reef Shipping: Review of Environmental Implications Great Barrier Reef Shipping: Review of Environmental Implications Document No. : R1212 Date : 21 December 2012 Status: Final Prepared for : Abbot Point Working Group under direction from BHP Billiton and North Queensland Bulk Ports. Prepared by : PGM Environment PO Box 7087 Safety Bay WA 6169 Australia Tel: 61 (0)417 123 442 e-mail: [email protected] John Polglaze Principal Reviewed by : Colin Trinder PGM Environment (Polglaze Griffin Miller & Associates Pty Ltd) ABN: 20 141 099 489 Cover images: AHS, Motorships GBR Shipping Study Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................i Consultation and Acknowledgements ...............................................................................................xiii 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Objectives of the Review ........................................................................................................ 4 1.3 Scope ....................................................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Methodology ........................................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Structure of This Report .......................................................................................................... 8 2. GBR Shipping ............................................................................................................................ 9 2.1 Ports in the GBR Region ......................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Shipping Areas and Channels ................................................................................................ 12 2.3 Ships ...................................................................................................................................... 14 2.4 Shipping Activity in the GBR Region ................................................................................... 18 3. GBR Values in Relation to Shipping ..................................................................................... 21 3.1 GBR World Heritage Listing ................................................................................................ 21 3.2 Natural Environment ............................................................................................................. 22 3.2.1 Climate .......................................................................................................................... 22 3.2.2 Seabed topography ........................................................................................................ 23 3.2.3 Islands ............................................................................................................................ 23 3.2.4 Coral reefs ..................................................................................................................... 23 3.2.5 Seagrass beds ................................................................................................................. 23 3.2.6 Mangroves ..................................................................................................................... 24 3.2.7 Submarine canyons and trenches ................................................................................... 24 3.2.8 Algae ............................................................................................................................. 24 3.2.9 Hard and soft corals ....................................................................................................... 24 3.2.10 Invertebrate fauna .......................................................................................................... 24 3.2.11 Fish ................................................................................................................................ 25 3.2.12 Cetaceans ....................................................................................................................... 25 3.2.13 Dugongs......................................................................................................................... 27 3.2.14 Marine turtles ................................................................................................................ 27 3.2.15 Seabird rookeries ........................................................................................................... 29 3.2.16 Crocodiles ...................................................................................................................... 29 R1212 i GBR Shipping Study 4. Applicable Conventions, Legislation and Policies ................................................................ 31 4.1 International Conventions and Agreements Related to Shipping .......................................... 31 4.2 Commonwealth Legislation .................................................................................................. 32 4.3 Queensland Legislation ......................................................................................................... 32 4.4 Summary ............................................................................................................................... 32 5. GBR Regional Policies, Procedures and Facilities ............................................................... 35 5.1 GBR Shipping Management Group ...................................................................................... 35 5.2 North East Shipping Management Plan ................................................................................ 35 5.3 Particularly Sensitive Sea Area ............................................................................................. 36 5.4 Vessel Inspections and Standards .......................................................................................... 37 5.4.1 Flag State Controls ........................................................................................................ 37 5.4.2 Port State Controls ......................................................................................................... 37 5.4.3 Ship vetting.................................................................................................................... 37 5.4.4 Terminal questionnaires ................................................................................................ 38 5.5 Hydrographic Survey and Charting ....................................................................................... 40 5.6 Electronic Chart Display and Information System ................................................................ 41 5.7 Navigation Aids ..................................................................................................................... 42 5.8 Weather Services ................................................................................................................... 42 5.9 Ship Automatic Identification System................................................................................... 42 5.10 AUSREP ............................................................................................................................ 43 5.11 REEFVTS .......................................................................................................................... 44 5.12 Port VTS ............................................................................................................................ 50 5.13 Compulsory Pilotage ......................................................................................................... 50 5.14 Designated Shipping Areas ............................................................................................... 52 5.15 Standard Route Plans and Traffic Management Schemes ................................................. 54 5.16 Compulsory Pollution Reporting ....................................................................................... 54 5.17 Oil and Chemical Spill Response ...................................................................................... 54 5.18 Emergency Towage ........................................................................................................... 57 5.19 Aviation Response Assets ................................................................................................. 57 5.20 GBR Ship Information ...................................................................................................... 57 5.21 GBR Port Rules ................................................................................................................. 57 6. Projected Future Shipping Activities in the GBR ................................................................ 59 6.1 Background ........................................................................................................................... 59 6.2 Methodology ......................................................................................................................... 59 6.3 Data Sources and Reliability ................................................................................................
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