Future Demand (next 20 years)* Low growth in ship calls (2% p.a.) Low growth in ship calls (2% p.a.) Significant growth in future ship calls (11% p.a.) Moderate growth in future ship calls (5-6% p.a.) Moderate growth in future ship calls (3-4% p.a.) No change to ship calls per day Less than two ship calls per day 2.5 ship calls per day 6.5 ship calls per day Six ship calls per day Future adequacy (prediction)** No need to expand No need to expand existing anchorage location No need to expand existing anchorage location Requirement for expansion of anchorages by around 30% if no change in management No need to expand Management Options Continue current practices of ship anchoring Improve current anchorage management practices Optimise the use of existing anchorages Investigate impacts of ship anchorages on aesthetic values at the Port of Continue current practices of ship anchoring Improve current anchorage management practices Consider implementing designated anchorage areas Investigate impacts of ship anchorages on aesthetic values at the Port of Townsville Continue current practices of ship anchoring Improve current anchorage management practices Consider implementing designated anchorage areas Consider scheduled ship arrivals if and when anchorage Consider more efficient use of existing anchorages Improve current anchorage management practices Further investigate impacts of ship anchorages on aesthetic values at the Port of Hay Point Consider scheduled arrivals in Continue current practices of ship anchoring Improve current anchorage management practices Optimise the use of existing anchorages Investigate impacts of ship anchorages on aesthetic values at
Cairns demand dictates combination with designated anchorages to avoid need to expand anchorage areas the Port of Gladstone If waiting times increase beyond four days, consider redesignating some anchorages as coal ship anchorages, and consider feasibility of VAS Objective and Outcome Objective 1 Outcome 1-1 Outcome 1-2 Outcome 1-3 Objective 2 Outcome 2-1 Objective 1 Outcome 1-1 Outcome 1-2 Outcome 1-3 Objective 2 Outcome 2-1 Objective 3 Outcome 3-1 Objective 1 Outcome 1-1 Outcome 1-2 Objective 2 Outcome 2-1 Outcome 2-2 Objective 3 Outcome 3-1 Objective 1 Outcome 1-1 Outcome 1-2 Objective 2 Outcome 2-1 Outcome 2-2 Objective 3 Outcome 3-1 Objective 1 Outcome 1-1 Outcome 1-2 Objective 2 Outcome 2-1 Outcome 2-2 *As assessed by phase 2 of this study. **As assessed with regard to the anchorage area studied by this project.
anchorage use port port port 500 ship arrivals per year 730 ship arrivals per year 180 ship arrivals per year 800 ship arrivals per year 1500 ship arrivals per year Less than one ship call per day One ship call per day Less than one ship call per day Two to three ship calls per day Three ship calls per day Average time at anchor – 12 hours Average time at anchor – three days Average time at anchor – three days Average time at anchor – 19 days Average time at anchor – four days Future demand Low growth in ship calls (2%) over next 20 years. Low growth in ship calls (2%) over next 20 years Significant growth in future ship calls (11%) over the next 20 years Relatively moderate growth in future ship calls (5-6%) over the next 20 years Relatively moderate growth in future ship calls (3-4%) over the next 20 years No change to ship calls per day Less than two ship calls per day 2.5 ship calls per day 6.5 ship calls per day Six ship calls per day
Table 51: Management options that exist or are recommended for each of the identified impact Impact Current Management Controls Future Management Options Disturbance to seabed and supported biodiversity Pilotage Designated Anchorages Zoning Port procedures Inspections Legislation Aggregate anchorages at each port Site section criteria to take into account the potential influences that increased levels of disturbance may have. Relevant assessments should be conducted to select areas at low risk of being affected by anchoring activities Release of emissions or pollutants/wastes Vessels are required to adhere to existing regulations governing emissions releases. Maintenance of engine and combustion equipment Designated anchorages Port procedures Inspections Aggregate anchorages at each port Reduce time at anchor Designated anchorages where currently not in place Consideration to proximity to sensitive receptors should be given if expansion of relocation of anchorage areas is proposed Interference with access to resources Port procedures Designated anchorages Aggregate anchorages at each port Reduce time at anchor Designated anchorages where currently not in place Marine pest introduction Existing legislation Port procedures Zoning Introduction and implementation of new legislation (Biosecurity Act) Aggregate anchorages at each port Reduce time at anchor
Port specific management options Port of Cairns The following issues for the management of the Port of Cairns anchorage have been identified through phases 1 and 2 of the project as: Demand of anchorages related to tidal access of port. Low growth in ship calls (2 per cent) over next 20 years. Current practices of ship anchoring were considered to have minimal future impact for the environment and other users beyond that which has already occurred at the designated anchorage site. Plans to improve channel and port access, the Cairns Shipping Development Project (Port of Cairns 2013) will reduce demand for additional anchorages by facilitating access to the port. The close proximity of the anchorage to the port provides opportunity to manage ship safety and rapidly respond to any maritime incident. Results of the Economic Appraisal suggest that the current practice of anchoring at the Port of Cairns within the designated areas is likely to produce the least cost for the desired net environmental outcome over the next 30 years. Management options - Cairns: Continue current practices of ship anchoring. Improve current anchorage management practices to protect environmental values. Optimise the use of existing anchorages. Investigate impacts of ship anchorages on aesthetic values at the Port of Cairns. Port of Townsville The following issues for the management of the Port of Townsville anchorage have been identified through phases 1 and 2 of the project as: Ship anchorage at the Port of Townsville requires operational flexibility due to multiple trades and visits by multiple ship types. Most of the current anchorage area is outside of the port limits and it is undesignated. Low growth in ship calls (two per cent) over next 20 years. The current practices of ship anchoring were considered to have minimal future impact for the environment and other users beyond that which has already occurred. The close proximity of the anchorage to the port provides opportunity to manage ship safety and rapidly respond to any maritime incident.
Table 52: Summary of management options for each port Cairns Townsville Abbot Point Hay Point Gladstone Current Management of Anchorages Sufficient physical capacity Environmental impacts from existing anchorage practices considered to be not significant. Designated anchorages. Sufficient physical capacity Environmental impacts from existing anchorage practices considered to be not significant. No designated anchorages. Sufficient physical capacity Environmental impacts from existing anchorage practices considered to be not significant. No designated anchorages. High demand for anchorages, nearly all ships (99%) proceed directly to anchor from sea to await a berth. Environmental impacts from existing anchorage practices considered to be not significant. Designated anchorages. Sufficient physical capacity. Environmental impacts from existing anchorage practices considered to be not significant. Designated anchorages. Future Demand* Low growth in ship calls (2%) over next 20 years. Low growth in ship calls (2%) over next 20 years. Significant growth in future ship calls (11%) over the next 20 years Relatively moderate growth in future ship calls (5-6%) over the next 20 years Relatively moderate growth in future ship calls (3-4%) over the next 20 years Future adequacy No predicted need to expand. No predicted need to expand. No predicted need to expand. Requirement for expansion of anchorages by around 30% predicted to accommodate peak demand No predicted need to expand.
Table 61: Summary of objectives and outcome for each port Cairns Townsville Abbot Point Hay Point Gladstone Future adequacy No predicted need to expand. No predicted need to expand. No predicted need to expand. Requirement for expansion of anchorages by around 30% predicted No predicted need to expand. Management Options Continue current practices of ship anchoring. Improve current anchorage management practices to protect environmental values Optimise the use of existing anchorages Investigate impacts of ship anchorages on aesthetic values at the Port of Cairns. Continue current practices of ship anchoring. Improve current anchorage management practices to protect environmental values Consider implementing designated anchorage areas. Investigate impacts of ship anchorages on aesthetic values at the Port of Townsville. Continue current practices of ship anchoring. Improve current anchorage management practices to protect environmental values Consider implementing designated anchorage areas. Consider scheduled ship arrivals if and when anchorage demand dictates Consider more efficient use of existing anchorages Improve current anchorage management practices to protect environmental values Consider scheduled arrivals in combination with designated anchorages to avoid need to expand anchorage areas. Continue current practices of ship anchoring. Improve current anchorage management practices to protect environmental values Optimise the use of existing anchorages If waiting times increase beyond four days, consider redesignating some anchorages as coal ship anchorages, and consider feasibility of VAS. Objective and Outcome Objective 1 Outcome 1-1 Outcome 1-2 Objective 1 Outcome 1-1 Outcome 1-2 Objective 1 Outcome 1-1 Outcome 1-2 Objective 1 Outcome 1-1 Outcome 1-2 Objective 1 Outcome 1-1 Outcome 1-2