Torres

Establishment of Virtual AIS Aid to Navigation in Torres Strait

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AMSA has identified a number of instances where deep draught vessels may have transited very close to the charted position of OG Rock in the Prince of Wales Channel.

For deep draught vessels the practice of transiting close to, or over, the charted position of OG Rock may increase risk, lead to a breach of AMSA’s stipulated under keel clearance limit or, in the worst case scenario, lead to a vessel grounding.

To assist deep draught vessels navigate in and around this area, AMSA has established a ‘virtual’ AIS Aid to Navigation (AtoN). A virtual AIS AtoN is an AtoN that can be displayed on vessel’s navigation displays for a location where no actual physical aid to navigation exists.

The virtual AIS AtoN readily and clearly indicates the charted position of OG Rock on navigational displays to assist Mariners keep deep draught vessels well clear of OG Rock and to avoid accidental breaches of Under Keel Clearance limits as stipulated in Marine Order 54.

The virtual AIS AtoN appears in position (WGS84) 10 degrees 29.865 South; 142 degrees 20.753 East. This should display on vessels’ ECDIS / Minimum Keyboard Displays / AIS equipment as a virtual Special Mark. The AIS description will include the text ‘OG Rock’.

Mariners transiting Torres Strait should be familiar with the location of OG Rock and its associated virtual AIS AtoN. Additionally, Mariners should consider the limited room to manoeuvre that is available for deep draught vessels in the vicinity of OG Rock.

Source: AMSA

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Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) Extended

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Australia’s proposal to extend the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait PSSA into the south west Coral Sea has been approved by the MEPC.
This extension will see an additional 565,000 square kilometres of the Coral Sea protected, more than
doubling the size of the existing area.
Designation as a PSSA helps to protect seas where significant ecological, socio-economic, cultural or
scientific attributes may be vulnerable to damage by international shipping.
Designation as a PSSA helps to protect seas where significant ecological, socio-economic or scientific attributes may be vulnerable to damage by international shipping. The Great Barrier Reef was declared the world’s first PSSA in 1990 and in 2005 this area was extended to include the Torres Strait.
Three Associated Protective Measures will support the new PSSA extension including a new Area to be Avoided and two supporting two-way routes. These measures will enhance ship safety and the protection of the marine environment by keeping traffic away from the many reefs, cays, islets, sandbars and shoal patches within the area.

The extended PSSA will come into effect once the Associated Protective Measures are adopted by the IMO Maritime Safety Committee, expected in June. The APMs would come into effect six months later.

For more information on the new PSSA, AMSA has produced a 7:18 minute video detailing the proposal. Watch on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/KvEx6FDllJU

Source: AMSA

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