Apply to berth at Port of Mackay

All ships are required to notify NQBP’s Port Operations Centre no later than seven days prior to arrival. Complete an online application.

The Ship’s Security Officer (SSO) needs to notify the Port Operations Centre of the following information:

  • the security officer's name and contact details
  • crew listing and details of projected crew movements
  • expected stores, visitors and crew changes.

Crew members seeking access through the cordon will need to be able to present a photographic ID card, which will be verified against the supplied crew list.

For the latest information on berthing applications, contact the ship’s agent or NQBP by telephone +61-7-4955 8171 or email portoperations@nqbp.com.au.

Berthing rules

1. Priority will be given to ships carrying cargo over naval ships and cruise liners.

2. A ship's owner, master or agent shall notify NQBP at least seven days prior to the entry of the ship to the port limits of the Port of Mackay. The notification is to be made in the form of the ‘Application to Berth’ published by NQBP from time to time and is to be sent via email or facsimile to NQBP.

3. The right to utilise a wharf is subject to the arriving ship having completed all relevant documentation and being ready to load/discharge cargo on entry to the port limits of the Port of Mackay. Failure to give the notification as required by Clause 2 above, may at the discretion of NQBP, result in any berthing priority being forfeited. Failure to have all cargo accumulated immediately prior to vessel arrival may at the discretion of NQBP, result in any berthing priorities being forfeited.

4. Subject to the rules set out below, priority berthing between ships shall generally be determined by which ship arrives first at the Mackay port pilotage anchorage area for the nominated berth.

5. NQBP may direct a ship to vacate a berth where, in the opinion of NQBP acting reasonably, there has been unreasonable delay in the completion of loading/unloading the ship where the delay was caused by, or was within the control of, the owner or master of the ship or the persons loading or unloading the ship (as the case may be). All costs associated with a direction to vacate are to be to the agent of the vessel.

6. If a vessel that is arranged to berth/depart cancels within 3.5 hours before pilot on board, half payment will be required, and if after POBA, full payment will be required for the berthing operations.

NQBP may vary these rules by notice to port users.

Specific conditions applying to particular berths

Wharves M1, M4 and M5

Priority shall be given to ships requiring use of equipment installed on a wharf over all other cargoes.

Priority between ships shall generally be determined by which ship is expected to berth, load/unload and depart the berth first.

For example, Ship A, carrying molasses, arrives at the Mackay port pilotage anchorage area prior to Ship B, carrying petroleum products and both have nominated the same berth. Given that Ship B is expected to berth, unload and depart within 12 hours, whereas Ship A will take 36 hours to do likewise (due to the nature of the cargoes), priority will be afforded to Ship B notwithstanding that it arrived at the Mackay port pilotage anchorage area after Ship A.

Wharf 3

Unless otherwise agreed by both STL and NQBP, each vessel utilising Wharf 3 must not exceed a total period of 48 hours on berth for loading / unloading of diesel fuel. If this period of time is exceeded then NQBP may direct the relevant vessel to leave Wharf 3 to allow STL’s vessels or other vessels to berth.

In any event, NQBP reserves the right to alter ship priorities to maximise the efficient use of a berth.