Notices to Mariners (NTMs) provide advice on general navigation and safety issues.
Current notices issued by Safe Transport Victoria are available below:
View all Notice to Mariners
Date: 16 November, 2023 – EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
Details: Mariners are advised that a wreck exists at Point Lonsdale Reef, at the following location:
– 38° 17.7323’ S, 144° 37.0341’ E
Mariners are advised to navigate with caution in the vicinity of Point Lonsdale Reef.
AUS Charts and Publications Affected: AUS 144 ENC AU5RIP01
Victorian Charts and publications affected: Nil
Further Notice: No further Notice will be issued.
Date: 28 September 2023
Details: Mariners are advised that operations will commence at 12.00 pm on 3 October 2023 to clear sand from the boat ramp and will conclude at 6.00 pm on 10 October 2023.
Mariners are advised that the boat ramp will not be accessible during the works.
AUS Charts and Publications Affected AUS 141, AU5WMB01
Further Notice: No further Notice will be issued.
Information: For further information contact Jackson Fary, Project
Manager 0478 311 231 or jfary@warrnambool.vic.gov.au
UNCREWED SURFACE VESSEL (USV) OPERATIONS
Date: Effective from 25 Septmeber 2023
Details: Operations of a remotely piloted Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USVs) are planned out of Walkerville Beach during September and October 2023.
The vessel will be engaged in survey activities as part of a geophysical survey in Waratah Bay. (Figure 1 Below)
Operations will take place subject to weather and other operational factors from 23 September 2023.
Mariners are asked to avoid contact with the vessel and be aware of the operational area during this period. A support vessel will escort the USV from the launch area in Walkerville and will be stationed in both Norman beach/Tidal River and Port Welshpool.
Although the USV is uncrewed, it is crewed throughout the 24 hour operation, piloted remotely using 360 degree cameras and other navigational aids.
Figure 1 indicates the operational area. The survey area boundary is indicated in Table 1 below also.
Table 1: Survey Area Boundary (WGS84)
Point | Point Latitude (⁰ South) | Longitude (⁰ East) |
1 | 38⁰ 48.79696 | 146⁰ 03.78674 |
2 | 38⁰ 49.34985 | 146⁰ 06.02521 |
3 | 38⁰ 53.41985 | 146⁰ 06.41549 4 |
4 | 38⁰ 52.85167 | 146⁰ 02.98395 |
Table 2: Vessel Details
Name | X 14 UNMANNED |
MMSI | 232035680 |
Length | 4.5m |
Beam | 2.2m |
Speed | 3.5kts |
Draught | 1.00m |
Tonnage | 1,000kg |
Figure 1: XO-450 USV
The USV sends real time images and situational awareness data over satellite to a team of operators keeping watch and controlling the vessel remotely 24/7.
Safety Precautions: The USV is equipped with the following to make it conspicuous to other marine traffic:
-AIS
-VHF
-Navigation
-Lights & Sound Signal
-Active Radar Reflector
-Superstructure Painted Yellow
AUS Charts and Publications Affected: AUS 801, AUS 802, AU439146
Victorian Charts and publications affected: Nil
Emergency Contact Details:
Name (role) | Telephone number | Email address |
USV Supervisor (24/7) | +353 1 223 9950 | usv.supervisor@xocean.com |
Adam Harding (Project Manager) | +44 7821 484975 | adam.harding@xocean.com |
Tom Davenport (Ops Manager) | +44 7759 237 524 T | Tom.davenport@xocean.com |
Anthony O’Toole (Marine Superintendent) | +353 1 223 9957 | anthony.otoole@xocean.com |
UNCREWED SURFACE VESSEL (USV) OPERATIONS
Date: Effective September 25 2023
Details: NTM 312(T) is referred and cancelled – Operations of a remotely piloted Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USVs) out of Walkerville Beach. Due to weather conditions the planned deployment was deferred.
AUS Charts and Publications Affected: AUS 801, AUS 802, AU439146
Victorian Charts and publications affected: Nil
Further Notice: A further Notice will be issued covering amended deployment dates.
Date: Effective from 3 February 2023
Details: Mariners are advised that Notice to Mariners No. 389 (Temporary) of 2021 is referred and cancelled. Mariners are advised that two special buoys have been re-established in positions (refer locations below) to mark Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs).
One buoy is located approximately 3 nautical miles east of Lorne and the other buoy is approximately 3.2 nautical miles southeast of Aireys Inlet.
Each special buoy is 1.26 metres high and 800mm in diameter and displays a yellow flashing light as detailed below.
# | Location | Position | Light Characteristics |
6 | 3NM E of Lorne | 38° 32.407’ S 144° 02.264’ E | Fl Y 5s 2-3 NM |
7 | 7 3.2NM SE of Aireys Inlet | 38° 29.382’ S 144° 09.904’ E | Fl Y 5s 2-3 NM |
The two buoys will be temporarily withdrawn for the winter months in May 2023 and re-established again in December 2023.
AUS Charts and Publications Affected: AUS 788, ENC AU 439144
Victorian Charts and publications affected: Nil
Further Notice: A further Notice will be issued in relation to the next deployment
Further Information: For further information contact Brent Womersley Victorian Fisheries Authority, Technical Officer. Email: brent.womersley@vfa.vic.gov.au
Date: Effective from 22 December 2022
Details: Mariners and jetty users are advised that Ozone Jetty maintenance works have been completed, approximate location (WGS84) 38°16.752’S 144°29.782’E.
This notice cancels NtM No. 400(T) Charts & AUS143
Further Notice: This Notice to Mariners is issued by the Barwon Coast Committee of Management Incorporated, delegated Local Port.
Further information: If you require any further information, please contact Barwon Coast on (03) 5254 1118.
Australia – Victoria
No. 466 (T) of 2022
Bass Strait – Torquay
Date: 16 December 2022
Details: Mariners are advised that Notice to Mariners No. 386 (Temporary) of 2021 is referred and cancelled.
Mariners are advised that five special buoys have been re-established in position (refer locations below) approximately two nautical miles east-south-east of Torquay to mark an offshore recreational fishing reef approximately is 26-28 metres below the surface.
Each special mark buoy is marking a fish aggregation device (FAD). The buoys are 1.26 metres high and 800mm in diameter and display yellow flashing lights as detailed below:
# | Location | Light Characteristics |
1 | 38° 19.930’ S 144° 22.553 E | Fl Y 5s 2-3 NM |
2 | 38° 19.941’ S 144° 22.464 E | Fl Y 5s 2-3 NM |
3 | 38° 20.006’ S 144° 22.449 E | Fl Y 5s 2-3 NM |
4 | 38° 20.025’ S 144° 22.382 E | Fl Y 5s 2-3 NM |
5 | 38° 20.077’ S 144° 22.369 E | Fl Y 5s 2-3 NM |
All five buoys will be withdrawn for the winter months in May 2023 and re-established in December 2023.
AUS Charts and Publications Affected: AUS143, AUS788, AU439144
Victorian Charts and publications affected: Nil
Further Notice: A further Notice will be issued in relation to the next deployment
Further Information: For further information contact Brent Womersley, Victorian Fisheries Authority, Technical Officer. Email: brent.womersley@vfa.vic.gov.au
Australia – Victoria
No 417 of 2022
Bass Straight East – Inverloch
Date: 25 September 2022 – EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
Details: Mariners are advised of a mooring deployment of a Sofar Spotter wave buoy, collecting wave data for the Victorian Coastal Monitoring Program (VCMP), deployed by Deakin University and funded by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).
The deployment is expected to be of a 12 month duration.
Approximate buoy location: 0.5 NM South of Inverloch Surf Beach Position: 38°39.294’S, 145° 42.247’E Approx. depth: 10 m.
The Special Mark Buoy has the following light characteristic: FL (1) 5s. 2-3 NM Special Mark Buoy measures 42 cm in width and is attached to two (2) orange floats It displays an amber light with characteristic: Fl.Am.2.5s.
Mariners are further advised to keep clear of the area where the buoys are deployed.
AUS Charts and Publications Affected: AUS801, AU439145
Victorian Charts and publications affected: Nil
Further Notice: A further Notice will be issued
Further Information: For further information contact contact Jak McCarroll, Victorian Coastal Monitoring Program, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, 0418 873 854, jak.mccarroll@delwp.vic.gov.au
View all Victorian NTMs on the Victorian Regional Channels Authority website
View all Australian NTMs on the Australian Hydrographic Service website.