Community and cruise

For cruise vessels visiting White Bay

A Noise Mitigation Strategy has been developed and is being implemented to manage noise from cruise ships at White Bay Cruise Terminal. The Strategy includes initiatives that aim to minimise the impact of cruise ships on the local community, including:

• a noise attenuation program providing mitigation treatments for residences in the vicinity of White Bay Cruise Terminal and White Bay berth 4;
• a policy for ships that cause excessive noise from vessel operations and non-safety related noise including on-deck music and public announcements, including a system of consequences for breaches of the policy; and
• continuous, real-time noise logging to monitor noise levels and guide ongoing noise management.

For non-cruise vessels visiting Glebe Island and White Bay

• We have developed a Port Noise Policy and Vessel Noise Operating Protocol for Glebe Island and White Bay. This initiative aims to manage noise from commercial shipping to minimise impacts on the local community while maintaining and optimising the port's long-term status as a working port. Notably, this is the first policy of its kind in Australia.
• We are a Board Member of Project Neptunes, a global sustainability initiative for port development and operations. This project has developed a universal measurement protocol, noise labelling guidelines for vessels, and a best practice guide for noise abatement measures to help reduce noise from berthed ships.
• We have committed to installing and supplying Shore Power, sourced from certified renewable energy, to the Bays Port Precinct by 2026. This innovation could reduce noise from cruise ships by up to 10dB.

Cruise ships berthing in Sydney Harbour have been directed to use either low-sulphur fuel or an alternative that achieves an equivalent outcome. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issued these Directions in December 2016 to achieve compliance with subsection 246(1)(b) of the Navigation Act 2012. For more information, please visit Sydney Harbour cruise ship emissions (amsa.gov.au).
 
Non-cruise ships are also required to use low sulphur fuel. As of 1 January 2020, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has introduced global shipping directives to improve air quality by reducing exhaust emissions of sulphur oxides and other particulate matter from ships. These regulations mean that all ships in Australian waters, either at berth or at sea, and regardless of size, are required to only use fuel that meets the global limit on sulphur content. For more information, please visit Compliance with low sulphur 2020 (amsa.gov.au).

AMSA regulates emissions from all ships to protect the marine environment and human health from air pollution, while ensuring compliance with international emission standards. AMSA inspectors regularly inspect ships visiting Sydney Harbour to ensure compliance. Please go to Sydney Harbour cruise ship emissions (amsa.gov.au) for more information.

We request vessels visiting our ports to manage light emissions by minimising unnecessary lighting at night, where safe and practicable, to reduce spill into the night sky and neighbouring properties.

Arrival and departure times depend on several factors, including operational requirements, scheduling conflicts, availability, and coordination with maritime industry partners who assist in safely bringing vessels into and out of port. These partners include tug operators, marine pilots, and mooring line services.

If you have a complaint or enquiry about activities at our ports, please call our 24/7 community enquiries and complaints line on 02 9296 4962. Port Authority's complaints and enquiries line is manged around the clock, ensuring complaints are addressed in real time, day or night.