Marine governance
Port Safety Operating Licence (PSOL): The Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight issues a Port Safety Operating Licence to Port Authority of New South Wales under the Ports and Maritime Administration Act 1995.
The Port Safety Operating Licence enables Port Authority to perform port safety functions in the ports of Newcastle, Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay, Port Kembla, Eden and Yamba.
Each of these port safety functions must meet relevant performance standards and requirements set out in the PSOL. Port Authority submits to the Minister an annual report of its performance in respect of the Licence and is independently audited on an annual basis to verify that the port safety functions are being carried out in accordance with the PSOL.
Port safety functions performed by Port Authority include:
Pilotage
Port Authority provides pilotage services to vessels requiring pilotage services within the ports of Newcastle, Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay, Port Kembla, Eden and Yamba. Port Authority also issues and administers pilotage exemptions within these ports.
Port communications
Port Authority has established port communications systems within the ports of Newcastle, Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay, Port Kembla, Eden and Yamba for the safe control of vessel traffic.
For the ports of Newcastle, Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay and Port Kembla, these port communication systems are operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the year.
Navigation aids
Port Authority maintains and regularly inspects its navigational aids and advises mariners of navigational aids which may be malfunctioning, out of position or missing at any time.
Channel and berthing box depths
Port Authority surveys, monitors and shares information of the depths of the channels and berthing boxes to port users to aid the safe movement of the variety of commercial ships utilising our ports.
Navigation service charges and pilotage charges
Port Authority fixes and collects the pilotage charges for the ports of Newcastle, Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay, Port Kembla, Eden and Yamba and navigation service charges for the ports of Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay, Eden and Yamba.
Dangerous goods
Port Authority administers the dangerous goods legislation concerning the handling, transportation and storage of dangerous goods within the ports of Newcastle, Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay, Port Kembla, Eden and Yamba.
Emergency response
Port Authority responds to all port-related incidents within the ports of Newcastle, Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay, Port Kembla, Eden and Yamba. Port Authority is also the lead agency for responses to maritime incidents and marine pollution within a broader area of operations which stretch from Fingal Head, Port Stephens to Gerroa, Seven Mile Beach, south of Port Kembla.
Port Authority would also share its emergency response capability, upon request, to assist in a coordinated response to any serious marine incident in NSW state waters, other state ports and as part of a national response to a major marine incident.
Investigations of marine pollution incidents
In addition to responding to marine pollution incidents, Port Authority also investigates the cause of the incident and may prosecute any breaches of the relevant marine pollution legislation.
Vessel Arrival System
For the Port of Newcastle, Port Authority maintains the Vessel Arrival System, which directs and controls the time and manner in which coal loading vessels may enter the Port of Newcastle.
Towage
Port Authority promotes the provision of safe and efficient towage services by third parties within the ports of Newcastle, Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay, Port Kembla, Eden and Yamba.
Port Authority is promulgating a non-exclusive Towage Licence in Port Botany, Sydney Harbour and Newcastle to improve port safety, efficiency and emergency response times.
Applications for towage licences in the ports of Port Botany, Sydney Harbour and Newcastle are now open. Applicants should complete the application form and submit completed applications to [email protected].
- Application for Unrestricted Towage Licence
- Application for Restricted Towage Licence
- Unrestricted Towage Licence Sydney Habour
- Unrestricted Towage Licence Port Botany
- Unrestricted Towage Licence Newcastle
- Unrestricted Towage Licence Port Kembla
- Unrestricted Towage Licence Eden
- Restricted Towage Licence Sydney Harbour
- Restricted Towage Licence Port Botany
Relevant legislation and orders
Port Authority of New South Wales is a statutory state-owned corporation established under the State Owned Corporations Act 1989 (NSW), Ports and Maritime Administration Act 1995 (NSW) and associated regulations, and operates in accordance with those Acts. Other significant legislation affecting Port Authority of New South Wales includes:
- Biosecurity Act 2015 (Cth)
- Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) (through Part 5 of the Act and the State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Development) 2005)
- Marine Safety Act 1998 (NSW) and associated Regulations
- Marine Pollution Act 2012 (NSW) and associated Regulations
- Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003 (Cth) and associated Regulations
- Ports Assets (Authorised Transactions) Act 2012 (NSW)
- Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991 (NSW)
- Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW)
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) and associated Regulations.
Port Authority of New South Wales is also subject to a wide variety of other legislation that provides rights to, and imposes obligations on, state owned corporations. These rights and obligations affect Port Authority of New South Wales’ governance processes and its commercial and operational activities.
