Table of Contents 1) VICTORIAN REGIONAL CHANNELS AUTHORITY - OVERVIEW ......... 5 1.1 PREAMBLE ................................................................................................................... 5 1.1.1 About this Handbook .................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1.2 Revisions and Updates ................................................................................................................................ 5 1.1.3 Disclaimer .................................................................................................................................................... 6 1.1.4 Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................................... 6 1.2 THE VICTORIAN REGIONAL CHANNELS AUTHORITY ............................................ 7 1.2.1 Role and Responsibility ............................................................................................................................... 7 1.2.2 Jurisdiction ................................................................................................................................................... 7 1.2.3 Mission Statement ....................................................................................................................................... 7 1.2.4 Board, CEO and Senior Officers .................................................................................................................. 7 1.3 THE HARBOUR MASTER ............................................................................................ 8 1.3.1 Appointment ................................................................................................................................................. 8 1.3.2 Powers to Direct ........................................................................................................................................... 8 1.3.3 Harbour Master’s Directions ........................................................................................................................ 8 1.3.4 Failure to comply with direction or obstruct Harbour Master ........................................................................ 9 1.3.5 Assistant Harbour Master (Marine Safety Act 2010 Chapter 6, Part 6.3, Section 229) ............................... 9 1.3.6 Other Powers ............................................................................................................................................... 9 1.4 SHIPPING CONTROL AND COMMUNICATIONS ..................................................... 10 1.4.1 Geelong - Marine Control Centre ............................................................................................................... 10 1.4.2 Automatic Ship Identification System ......................................................................................................... 10 1.4.3 Communication Centres............................................................................................................................. 10 1.4.4 Communication Frequencies ..................................................................................................................... 11 1.5 VESSEL OPERATIONS GENERALLY ....................................................................... 12 1.5.1 General Requirements for Vessels ............................................................................................................ 12 1.5.2 Compliance with Provision of Handbook ................................................................................................... 12 1.5.3 Order of Priority .......................................................................................................................................... 12 1.5.4 Pilotage and Exemptions ........................................................................................................................... 13 1.5.5 Use of Tugs and Line Launches ................................................................................................................ 13 1.5.6 Assistance to be Given to Officers of the VRCA ........................................................................................ 13 1.5.7 Quarantine Report ..................................................................................................................................... 14 1.5.8 Australian Border Force ............................................................................................................................. 15 1.6 PORT ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURES ................................................................ 16 1.6.1 Appointment of Ship’s Agent ...................................................................................................................... 16 1.6.2 Flying National Colours .............................................................................................................................. 16 1.6.3 Use of Geelong Port Facilities ................................................................................................................... 16 2) PORT INFORMATION ............................................................................ 17 2.1 ANCHORAGES, CHANNELS AND BERTHS ............................................................ 17 2.1.1 Anchorages ................................................................................................................................................ 17 2.1.2 Channels and Navigation Marks ................................................................................................................ 18 2.1.3 Charts ........................................................................................................................................................ 19 2.1.4 Table of Distances in Nautical Miles .......................................................................................................... 26 2 2.2 TIDES AND TIDAL INFORMATION ............................................................................ 26 2.2.1 Chart Datum ............................................................................................................................................... 26 2.2.2 Tides at Geelong ........................................................................................................................................ 27 2.2.3 Tidal Streams ............................................................................................................................................. 27 2.2.4 Tide/Time Variations .................................................................................................................................. 27 2.2.5 Tide Surges ................................................................................................................................................ 28 2.3 GEELONG PORT SERVICES ..................................................................................... 28 2.3.1 Port Operations .......................................................................................................................................... 28 2.3.2 Movement Orders ...................................................................................................................................... 28 2.3.3 Pilots .......................................................................................................................................................... 29 2.3.4 Towage ...................................................................................................................................................... 30 2.3.5 Line Launches ............................................................................................................................................ 31 2.3.6 Linesmen ................................................................................................................................................... 31 2.3.7 Bunkers ...................................................................................................................................................... 32 2.3.8 Collection of Ships Garbage ...................................................................................................................... 32 2.3.9 Telephones ................................................................................................................................................ 32 2.3.10 Fresh Water ............................................................................................................................................ 32 3) HARBOUR MASTER’S DIRECTIONS ................................................... 33 3.1 DEFINITIONS .............................................................................................................. 33 3.2 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................... 35 3.2.1 Applications ................................................................................................................................................ 35 3.2.2 Compliance with Acts, Regulations and Provisions ................................................................................... 35 3.2.3 Channel Usage Application ........................................................................................................................ 35 3.2.4