Provision of Marine Pilot Transfer Services

Transport and Main Roads (Maritime Safety Queensland Division) is seeking offers for the provision of marine pilot transfer services for the ports of Weipa, Thursday Island, Cairns (including Mourilyan), Abbot Point, Mackay (including Hay Point). In each port, the successful Offeror/s will be required to provide crew, with the exception of Thursday Island where a vessel and crew is required to be supplied by the successful Offeror. The State reserves the right to award contracts on an individual port basis.

Maritime Safety Queensland owns a fleet of dedicated pilot transfer vessels, situated at various ports around Queensland. Vessels will be provided by Maritime Safety Queensland to assist the successful Offeror/s in delivering these services to the above ports, with the exception of Thursday Island. Vessel transfer services supplement the helicopter transfer arrangements in Gladstone and Hay Point. Maintenance of the vessels will form part of the requirements of this contract.

Continued access to reliable vessel transfer services is a critical component of pilotage delivery. Delays in pilotage can cause significant cost flow on to industry. As the movement of ships is often tide critical, one hours’ delay (in pilotage) can cause a full days delay for the ship taking the service, and importantly, for a number of other planned shipping movements within a port.