Notice to Mariners & Warnings

Notices to Mariners (NTM’s) provide legal notification of changes in conditions within charted waters that could affect the safe and efficient movement of shipping. A Notice to Mariner is issued for the purpose of providing permanent navigation information—frequently this information will result in a chart correction.

A notice may be marked as Temporary (T) if the information will remain valid only for a limited time. The master or skipper of a vessel must ensure that the passage of a vessel complies with Notices to Mariners and that charts are altered in accordance with information provided.

The Australian Hydrographic Service of the Royal Australian Navy is the Commonwealth authority responsible for national chart production known as AUS Charts and the circulation of Australian Notices to Mariners that are distributed nationally and internationally. Information contained in Gippsland Ports’ notices are regularly reproduced in the Australian Notices. These notices are recognised as being an authoritative, accurate guide on marine charts.

Local Navigation Warnings

Local Navigation Warnings (LNW’s) provide notification of changes in conditions within Gippsland Ports’ waterways that could affect the safe and efficient movement of shipping. Local Navigation Warnings are generally issued when the changes referred to occur in waters not covered by an Admiralty chart; or that refer to a small, localised event. The master or skipper of a vessel must ensure that all vessel operations comply with directions given in Local navigation warnings.

Interested parties may wish to subscribe to the “Notice to Mariners” option to automatically receive notification when new notices are issued.

Current Notices

06/07/2022

LNN No.7-2022

Location: Lakes Entrance

Mariners are advised that the Entrance Channel Tide Gauge Platform located on the Eastern Training Wall will be upgraded with a new structure to be built side by side with the existing platform. Works shall commence from today Wednesday 6th July 2022. Works may be intermittent over the next few months and may involve vessel operations near the site.

30/06/2022

LNN No. 6 – 2022

Location: South Gippsland - Shallow Inlet

29/05/2022

NTM 199-2022

Location: Port Albert - Old Port Channel

Mariners are advised that following a formal risk assessment the waters of the Old Port Channel at Port Albert have been identified as being navigable only by very shallow draft watercraft upstream of newly established #6 Port and #13 Starboard lateral mark gate buoys. Accordingly, a number of Aids to Navigation have been withdrawn from service.

28/04/2022

LNW No 8 – 2022

Location: Port Albert Entrance

WESTERN APPROACH GUTTER – TREE HAZARDS IDENTIFIED Mariners are advised that continuous Easterly weather events over the past 12 months has caused erosion to occur on the ocean beaches of Snake Island near the Entrance to Port Albert. Gippsland Ports has recently received reports from credible local sources that large tree snags have been encountered in the narrow gutter that forms the unmarked western approach to the Port Albert Entrance.

06/04/2022

LNN No. 5-2022

Location: McLennan Strait approach - Hollands Landing

Mariners are advised that pile beacons marking the approach to McLennan Strait at Hollands Landing have been lit as advised in the attached Notice.

06/04/2022

LNW No. 5-2022

Location: Sydenham Inlet

A recent flooding event in East Gippsland has caused flooding in the Bemm River catchment. Sydenham Inlet has broken through the dunes and opened to the ocean naturally last evening. These events are normally temporary until the floodwaters recede.

24/03/2022

LNN NO.4 OF 2022 MCMILLANS STRAIT – PAYNESVILLE

Location: McMillan Strait - Paynesville

Mariners are advised that the works to replace the safety wire under the High Voltage Overhead Power Line that runs across McMillans Strait from Fort King to Raymond Island have been temporarily postponed.

04/03/2022

LNW NO.4 (T) OF 2022 Nyerimilang Artificial Reef

Location: Reeve Channel Nyerimilang

31/01/2022

LNN No2. – 2022

Location: Mahers Landing - upstream

Mariners are advised that following bathymetric surveys, the Anderson Inlet Channel realignment upstream of Mahers Landing and the exchange of new aids to navigation to mark the channel has been completed.

19/01/2022

LNN No. 1-2022

Location: Lake King Metung

Mariners are advised that Metung Yacht Club will be hosting two significant sailing regattas as follows; Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd January 2022 – One Design Regatta for Etchell22 and Dragon Classes Saturday 12th March to Monday 14th March 2022 (inclusive) – Australian National Title for the Etchell22 Class

17/01/2022

LNW No. 3(T)-2022

Location: Snowy River

Mariners are advised that recent rainfall in the river catchments of the Snowy River system has caused localized flooding resulting in a minor flood warning for the Snowy River. Mariners are reminded that debris caused by flood water including large trees and timbers may find its way downstream and affect the safe navigation of vessels within the Snowy and Brodribb rivers and the estuary system.

16/01/2022

LNW No 2.(T)-2022

Location: Mitchell River Eagle Point

Mariners are advised that The Gippsland Ports Construction Barge “Gippslander” and the Tug “Albatross” will be involved with the rebuild of the Mitchell River Lower Landing commencing Friday 14th January. The jetty will be closed during the rebuild whic is expected to take 6- 8 weeks.

05/01/2022

LNW No. 1(T) – 2022

Location: East Gippsland river catchments

Mariners are advised that significant rainfall totals over the last 24hrs as of 0600 hours today have been recorded in the river catchment areas of East Gippsland. The rainfall is causing rises in the Tambo and Mitchell Rivers which may cause flooding within the catchments resulting in run off through the Gippsland Lakes systems. Mariners are reminded to take all necessary precautions. Refer to the attached notice for details.

09/12/2021

LNW No.15 – 2021

Location: East Gippsland rivers and catchments

Mariners are advised that the Australian Bureau of Meteorology is maintaining a flood watch across Gippsland and North East Victoria. From Thursday 9th to Saturday 11th of December, three day rainfall totals of 80-200 mm are forecast for East Gippsland, and 30-60 mm across the remainder of the flood watch area.

01/12/2021

LNW No 14- 2021

Location: Shoal Inlet

Mariners are advised that the large submerged tree in the Manns Channel, near the entrance to Shoal Inlet has been removed. The Isolated Danger buoy marking the hazard has been removed. Local Navigation Warning No.8 of 2021 is referred and cancelled.

16/11/2021

LNW No. 13-2021

Location: Thompson River Sale

Mariners are advised that a Large River Gum has fallen into the Thomson River approximately 1200m downstream of the confluence of the Sale Canal and the Thompson River. See attached map indicating the approximate position. Mariners are advised to take extra precaution when navigating near or around the tree until such time that the tree is removed or partially removed and marked.

14/11/2021

LNW 12-2021

Location: Gippsland Lakes and Snowy River

Mariners are advised that recent rainfall totals in the river catchments of the Gippsland Lakes and Snowy River systems has caused minor to moderate and in some cases major and localized flooding. Mariners are reminded that debris caused by flood water including large trees and timbers may find its way downstream and affect the safe navigation of vessels within the Gippsland Rivers and Lake systems. Gippsland Ports strongly advises against the operation of vessels in flood affected waters or driving vehicles through flood water. Vessel owners and operators should ensure that berthed or moored vessels are watertight, properly secured and regularly check mooring lines and swing mooring cables.

05/11/2021

LNN No 4-2021

Location: Tarwin River - upstream from Mahers Landing

Mariners are advised that all vessels operating in the Tarwin River upstream of Mahers Landing are subject to a restricted speed limit of 10 knots maximum. A 5 knot speed limit within the 10 knot speed limit area also exists at night for waters adjacent to the Tarwin Lower Boat Ramp as explained Schedule 114.5(c) above.