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

20/07/2020

LNW No 7 – 2020

Location: Mallacoota

Mariners are advised that the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (EGCMA) has authorised Parks Victoria to undertake an artificial opening of the Mallacoota Inlet entrance to the sea. works commencing from Monday 20 July 2020. Maritime Safety Victoria is responsible for creating the Waterway exclusion zone. The exclusion zone will remain in force from Monday 20th July 2020 to Tuesday 28th July 2020.

16/03/2020

LNW 004-2020

Location: Mallacoota

Mariners are advised that several Parks Victoria Jetties have been damaged by the recent severe bushfires. An inspection has now been carried out of the extent of the damage resulting in the following jetties being marked to warn vessel operators. Mariners are advised to stay clear of fire damaged jetties until remedial works can be arranged and are reminded that rising flood water may cover some or all the remains of the jetty infrastructure at times.

17/02/2020

LNN 002-2020

Location: Loch Sport

Mariners are advised that Loch Sport Buoys No. 3 & No 4 have been replaced.

10/02/2020

NTM 051(T) OF 2020 – Note 253 (T) – 2019 is now cancelled

Location: Bastion Point Mallacoota

04/02/2020

LNW 003-2020

Location: Marlo - Snowy River Entrance

Mariners are advised that Parks Victoria personnel shall be opening the Port of Snowy River entrance to the sea beginning on Tuesday 04 February 2020. Parks Victoria will be establishing a Vessel Exclusion Zone within the port during the opening process. The exclusion zone will remain in effect until further notice.

16/01/2020

NTM 017-2020

Location: Lewis Channel

Mariners are advised that the beacon exchange program commenced in October 2019 has been completed. There is no change to the position or the light characteristic of the beacons.

07/01/2020

LNW 002-2020

Location: Mallacoota

Mariners are advised that, due to significant dense bushfire smoke in the East Gippsland Region, solar battery charge may be compromised to light beacons and light buoys that mark the Channels and Fairways of the Port of Mallacoota Inlet. Due to significant fire damage, access to Mallacoota Inlet is seriously compromised and restricted to Emergency and Extraction personnel only until advised otherwise. Repairs and maintenance to any affected Aids to Navigation will be completed by Gippsland Ports when access is returned to normal.

06/01/2020

LNW 001-2020

Location: Loch Sport vicinity

Mariners are advised that a 32 ft Cruiser previously sunk near Loch Sport has been salvaged and no longer poses a risk to the safe navigation of vessels. Further Information is available from Gippsland Ports on 0427 610 025.

18/12/2019

LNW No 6 of 2019

Location: Latrobe River - vicinity of the Swing Bridge

Mariners are advised that two new tree snags have been identified near and upstream of the Latrobe River Swing Bridge. The trees lie on opposite sides and encroach into the river from the riverbank. The northern snag is separated from the riverbank and the southern snag remains rooted into the riverbank.

18/12/2019

LNN No 10 – 2019

Location: Anderson Inlet Channel

Mariners are advised that Stage 1 of the Anderson Inlet buoy exchange and channel alignment program has been completed. Stage 1 included the exchange and alignment of all lateral mark buoys from the Inverloch boat ramp upstream to the junction of the Venus Bay Boat Ramp channel.

17/12/2019

LNW No 5 of 2019

Location: Pelican Channel

Mariners are advised that due to a change in channel configuration the unlit Pelican Channel South Cardinal Mark buoy (Y.B.) has been relocated

17/12/2019

LNW No. 4-2019

Location: Entrance to Shoal Inlet – Manns Channel

Mariners are advised that an apparent abandoned well casing has been identified in Manns Channel upstream of the entrance to Shoal Inlet.

16/12/2019

LNN No.9 OF 2019

Location: Port of Corner Inlet and Port Albert- Port Welshpool Slip

07/08/2019

LNN 08-2019

Location: Shaving Point, Metung

Mariners are advised that an all-round white light with the flash character Fl.2.5s. has been established in place of the former sector light (Fl.WR.4s) at Shaving Point Metung.

22/07/2019

LNN 007-2019

Location: Loch Sport

Mariners are advised that following the completion of dredging operations the Loch Sport approach channel Starboard hand lateral mark buoy No 1a has been withdrawn form service. Also, the previously unlit Starboard hand pile beacon No.3 has been replaced by a lit Starboard hand lateral mark buoy No.3 (Fl.G.5s) in the same position.

26/06/2019

LNN No. 06 – 2019

Location: Shallow Inlet Boat Hole

Mariners are advised that 8 Unlit Port and Starboard Hand Lateral Buoys have been established as Aids to Navigation to mark the Approach Channel into Shallow Inlet Boat Hole

22/05/2019

Lakes Entrance Bar Report

Location: Lakes Entrance Bar

Mariners are advised that following recent Survey results the entrance leads indicating the preferred transit line to cross the Bar at Lakes Entrance is aligned on “Green Light”.

09/04/2019

LNW 003-2019

Location: Anderson Inlet

Mariners are advised that, following a thorough inspection, Port Hand Lateral Mark Buoys No.14 & No.20 have been reinstated and all Anderson Inlet Aids to Navigation from the Entrance to Tarwin River have been checked and restored to normal positions where necessary.