This official nautical publication provides mariners with essential regulatory, procedural, and environmental information affecting the planning and conduct of voyages to or from Australian ports, or within Australian waters. It consolidates key information from various Australian government agencies into one comprehensive reference, with links to further details if required.

The publication includes:

• Major Australian maritime legislation and regulations, and responsible agencies
• Marine Protected Areas, regulations and responsible agencies
• Coastal Pilotage arrangements
• Torres Strait and Great Barrier Reef shipping routes, accident and incident reporting
• Maritime Safety Information, meteorological broadcasts, warnings, search and rescue
• Ship Reporting Systems – AUSREP and REEFVTS
• Maritime security, Customs, biosecurity, quarantine and immigration
• Australian trading ports – Pilots, boarding arrangements, arrival and departure notification requirements, VHF Channels and port contact details
• Mariners guide to interpreting the accuracy of depth information in Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC)
• The regional climatic environment
• Key contact information for each relevant government agency and links to further information
• Important information relating to the accuracy of charts, Zones of Confidence (ZOCs), and effects of over-scaling in Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS)
• This handbook is an invaluable resource for mariners navigating Australian waters, ensuring compliance with regulations and enhancing voyage safety.