Gascoyne

Mariners are advised that offshore geophysical and multibeam echo sounder survey works will be conducted approximately 1.5 nautical miles south of Exmouth Marina between 28 April 2026 and 12 May 2026, daily between 6:00am and 6:00pm.

Works will be undertaken from the survey vessel ‘Calippo’. Survey operations will include the use of seismic and multibeam echo sounder equipment, with cables and towed equipment extending up to 110 metres astern of the vessel.

A temporary marine exclusion zone will be established within the survey area during operations within the following boundary: 

•    -21° 58.88'S 114° 7.84'E
•    -21° 58.89'S 114° 8.98'E
•    -21° 59.36'S 114° 8.93'E
•    -21° 59.34'S 114° 7.69'E

Operators will monitor Marine VHF Channel 16.

All vessels taking part in the survey will display shapes and lights in accordance with the Prevention of Collisions in State Waters Regulations 1983 at all times.

Mariners are advised to maintain a proper lookout at all times and proceed with caution when navigating in this area.

I Graeme Meinema, delegate of the Chief Executive Officer, acting pursuant to section 66 of the Western Australian Marine Act 1982 hereby close the following area of water to all vessels until further notice:

All waters of Exmouth Boat Harbour bounded by a line commencing at a point at the Slipway groyne to a position within the southern portion of the harbour waters at 21° 57.390’S, 114° 08.366’E (EZ1), thence in an easterly direction to position 21° 57.396’S, 114° 08.396’E (EZ2), thence further east to position 21° 57.405’S, 114° 08.412’E (EZ3), thence in a south easterly direction to position 21° 57.415’S, 114° 08.421’E (EZ4), then heading directly south to the intersection of the Exmouth Boat Harbour Service Wharf.  

All coordinates are in GDA 2020.

Conditions of Closure:

No vessel shall transit through, anchor or moor within the closed waters area;

Approved vessels associated with the slipway are exempt from the closure.

Swimming is prohibited in the above area of closure.

Mariners are advised to exercise caution when transiting the area and to keep wake to a minimum at all times.

Exmouth Boat Harbour Closure Map.pdf

Mariners are advised that following Tropical Cyclone Narelle the Bundegi Inner Reef Safe Track Port Buoys No. 6 and 2 are currently missing. 

Mariners are advised to maintain a proper lookout at all times and proceed with caution when navigating in this area, particularly during periods of poor visibility, low light, or darkness.

Mariners are advised that starboard spar buoy number 5 in Teggs Channel, Carnarvon is missing.
Please exercise caution when transiting the area.

Mariners are advised that Starboard Buoy No. 11 at Tantabiddi, Exmouth is currently unlit.

Mariners are advised to exercise caution when navigating in the area, particularly during periods of low visibility, at night, or in reduced light conditions. A proper lookout should be maintained at all times

Mariners are advised that following Tropical Cyclone Narelle the Port Beacon (No. 2) and Starboard Beacon (No. 1) at the entrance to Exmouth Boat Harbour are both currently unlit.

Mariners are advised to exercise caution when navigating in the area, particularly during periods of low visibility, at night, or in reduced light conditions. A proper lookout should be maintained at all times.

-21:57.5864'S, 114:8.7888
-21:57.5532'S, 114:8,7886

Mariners are advised that following Tropical Cyclone Narelle  Bundegi boat ramp in Exmouth remains closed.

Mariners are advised that a Directional Wave Buoy has broken free from its mooring approximately 5 nautical miles north of Winderabandi Point within the Ningaloo Marine Park.

Associated rope and mooring tackle may be floating on or just below the surface and may pose a navigational hazard.

Location: -22° 24.5302'S 113° 40.4095'E

Mariners are advised to maintain a proper lookout at all times and proceed with caution when navigating in this area.

Mariners are advised that a recreational vessel dragged its mooring during the cyclone and is currently obstructing the navigable channel at Carnarvon Fascine. 

Mariners are advised to maintain a proper lookout at all times and proceed with caution when navigating in this area.

Vessel masters are reminded that all vessels wishing to transit or operate within the port limit which either:

Have a LOA of 35 meters or greater; or
Are engaged in towing operations where the total length of the tow (measured from the bow of the towing vessel to the stern of the towed vessel) is 35 metres or greater.
Are required to engage the services of a suitably licensed marine pilot or the vessel Master must be the holder of a current Port of Carnarvon Pilot Exemption Certificate.

The requirements regarding Pilotage exemption certificates can be found at Division 4 of the Shipping and Pilotage (Ports and Harbours) Regulations 1966. 

WALW - Shipping and Pilotage (Ports and Harbours) Regulations 1966 - Home Page

Applications can be made to the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure Harbour Master’s office at port.ops@transport.wa.gov.au.


Authorised by: Captain P.A. Dwyer, Harbour Master, Port of Carnarvon, Maritime Division, Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure

Mariners are advised that the front lead (236) into Tantabiddi Passage has collapsed however remains in position. The alteration in alignment of the front lead may not provide an accurate indication of the recommended course through Tantabiddi Passage.

Mariners are advised to exercise caution when navigating in this area and are not to rely solely on the leads for navigation.

Mariners are advised that Water Quality Monitoring loggers will be deployed at 4 sites near Exmouth Boat Harbour on 13 December 2024.

The device will contain a subsurface float and a Water Quality Monitoring logger which will be deployed on the seafloor.

The float will have a clearance from the surface of 5m at LAT.

Monitoring Sites:
21° 55.5600 ‘S 114° 8.8800 ‘E
21° 58.0200 ‘S 114° 8.7600 ‘E
21° 57.6600 ‘S 114° 8.8200 ‘E
21° 59.0400 ‘S 114° 8.4600 ‘E

Mariners are advised to proceed with caution when transiting near the above devices.

Mariners are advised that a wave rider buoy will be deployed approximately 7.5 nautical miles East of Cape Inscription, Dirk Hartog Island on Friday 1 November 2024 at the following location.

25° 29.5954' S 113° 05.7486' E
The above buoy is yellow in colour, 420mm in diameter, contains 5 black solar panels and equipped with a yellow flashing light. The buoy also contains an orange surface float connected by 20m of line.

Flash rate Fl Y 2.5s

Mariners are advised to navigate with caution when transiting the area and keep well clear of the above buoy.

Mariners are advised that a wave rider buoy will be deployed approximately 1.6 nautical miles West of the Coral Bay boat ramp Friday 1 November 2024 at the following location.

23° 9.2652' S 113° 44.2152' E

The above buoy is yellow in colour, 420mm in diameter, contains 5 black solar panels and equipped with a yellow flashing light. The buoy also contains an orange surface float connected by 20m of line.

Flash rate Fl Y 2.5s

Mariners are advised to navigate with caution when transiting the area and keep well clear of the above buoy.

Mariners are advised that a wave rider buoy will be deployed approximately 3 nautical miles West of the Tantabiddi boat ramp on Friday 1 November 2024 at the following location.

21° 53.7240' S 113° 55.5900' E

The above buoy is yellow in colour, 420mm in diameter, contains 5 black solar panels and equipped with a yellow flashing light. The buoy also contains an orange surface float connected by 20m of line.

Flash rate Fl Y 2.5s

Mariners are advised to navigate with caution when transiting the area and keep well clear of the above buoy.

Mariners are advised that 12 Acoustic Receivers are scheduled to be deployed in June 2024 at each of the following locations:

22°0.4500'S, 114°32.6040'E

22°6.4860'S, 114°30.9120'E

21°55.1460'S, 114°38.7180'E

21°54.3900'S, 114°38.3940'E

21°55.2060'S, 114°39.1260'E

22°27.1500'S, 114°13.4940'E

22°22.8720'S, 114°23.2440'E

22°23.9940'S, 114°9.2940'E

22°28.7640'S, 114°9.9780'E

22°1.3650'S, 114°32.3790'E

22°24.3080'S 114°19.3240'E

22°17.5900'S 114°8.1500'E

The above acoustic receivers are marked by 2 unlit yellow surface floats.

Recovery date: June 2034

Mariners are advised to navigate with caution and keep well clear of the above acoustic receivers.

Mariners are advised that new navigational aids have recently been installed at the Fascine in Carnarvon however the channel is moving and causing some of these AtoN to fail. Until this is rectified, please navigate with extreme caution.

Mariners are advised that two Directional Wave Rider Buoys (DWRB) are scheduled to be deployed approximately 4 NM East of Point Murat and 10 NM East of Learmonth in the

Exmouth Gulf at the following locations:

21° 48.090'S 114° 15.924'E
22° 11.000'S 114° 15.900'E

The above DWRB's are yellow in colour, approximately 0.42m in diameter and equipped with a flashing yellow light.

Flash Rate: Fl Y 2.5s

Mariners are advised to navigate with caution when transiting the area and keep well clear of the DWRB's at all times.

Mariners are advised that the rear lead into Norwegian Bay, on the Ningaloo Coast, is buried and obscured from view. Only the front lead is visible at this time.
Please navigate with caution if you are entering the Bay.
Alternative anchorages are Coral Bay to the south or Tantabiddi to the north.

High levels of swimming and snorkelling occur in the area surrounding Five Finger Reef.

Mariners are advised to traverse with caution.

Mariners are advised that 3x sub surface acoustic receivers will be deployed late September 2021 at Exmouth Gulf at the following locations:

22° 17.3760 S, 114° 7.9800 E    Bay of Rest (outer)
22° 16.8540 S, 114° 7.7160 E    Bay of Rest (outer)
22° 17.1660 S, 114° 7.8120 E    Bay of Rest (outer)

Each of the above receivers is attached to a subsurface rope and equipped with a yellow surface float. 

Recovery date: 01/08/2025

Mariners are advised to navigate with Caution when transiting the area

Mariners are advised that a shifting sandbar has encroached upon the fascine waterway, and the downstream channel south of the Fascine public boat ramp.

Shallow waters and shifting sand bars are reducing depths and severely restricting navigation throughout the fascine channel.

Navigational Markers should be used with caution with channel depths reduced especially at the seaward entrance.

Navigational Beacons are not to be relied on at night.

Mariners are advised to avoid navigating at low tide if launching from the Fascine boat ramp. The Carnarvon Boat Harbour boat ramp is open to provide an alternative option for launching vessels via Teggs Channel.