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Victorian Regional Channels Authority (VRCA) will be conducting ‘bed-levelling’ operations in selected areas of the channels, berths and approaches of the Port of Geelong, commencing on or about Tuesday, January 7, 2020.

The bed levelling exercise is designed to re-distribute sediment to deeper parts of the channel. This will ensure charted depths of the channel will be maintained, and a safe underkeel clearance provided to continue to ensure the safe navigation of vessels visiting the port.

VRCA says the operations will be undertaken within the requirements of the Marine and Coastal Management Act with consent approved by Victoria’s Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).

The works will be conducted by Tug EDI, a 24m twin screw utility vessel.  The vessel will be operating in various locations within the berths and channels within port of Geelong waters.

Mariners are advised, by Notice to Mariners No 2 – 2020 that bed-levelling and sweeping operations are scheduled to commence on or about January 6, 2020 and continue for approximately three weeks. The hours of operation will be variable during this period.

The Tug EDI vessel will exhibit shapes and lights in accordance with the Prevention of Collisions at Sea Regulations 1972 and will maintain a listening watch on VHF channel 12.

Mariners and port users are advised to navigate with caution within the Port of Geelong during the bed levelling operations, proceed at a safe speed at all times and keep well clear at all times.

Will you be spending time on the water over summer?

Summer sees a greater number of people enjoying the waters surrounding Victoria’s regional ports with different levels of experience.

Paul Worsteling from IFish is a passionate safety advocate and VRCA’s Keep Clear of Big Ships ambassador. Please see the first of a series of safety videos VRCA will be publishing over summer.

VRCA welcomed Peter Mannion as its new CEO on 28 October 2019.

Peter brings to VRCA a deep understanding of the shipping industry with a sharp focus on maritime safety, risk and regulatory compliance.

For the past 12 years Peter has been a key member of the Rio Tinto Shipping’s leadership team, responsible for its fleet operations, safety and legal compliance. As an active member of broader shipping industry Peter has held office as a director of Rightship Pty Ltd and Maritime Industry Australia Limited for a number of years.

The announcement of Peter’s appointment by Kate Roffey, VRCA’s Chairman, is available here.

Seafarers from around the globe, including Geelong, were recognised this weekend as the Mission to Seafarers pays tribute to millions of people who spend their lives working at sea.

‘Sea Sunday’ is international recognised on July 14, as a global celebration of the enduring and vital work of the Mission to Seafarers.

The Mission is a Christian welfare charity serving merchant crews around the world. Victorian Regional Channels Authority is proud to support the Mission’s function at the ports of Geelong, Hastings and Portland.

Reverend Noah Park, the Chaplain of Geelong’s Mission to Seafarers, which dates back to the 1890s, says life on the sea is a unique experience and often seafarers are hidden and relatively forgotten.

“Life at sea brings unimaginable stresses from seasickness, injuries, loneliness and depression and even on occasions, bullying and threats on-board between sailors,” he says.

“At the Mission to Seafarers, we respond to the call to serve seafarers by visiting seafarers on their ships, welcoming them to our seafarer centre and providing them with practical assistance.”

This includes providing a safe and welcoming environment away from the ships, transport to town and nearby shops and a place they can relax and rest and contact their families back home.

The Mission’s support also includes access to recreational facilities, counselling, hospital visits, local tours and bus services, spiritual support and guidance.

Last year, more than 6500 seafarers from 41 different countries including the Philippines, China and India, visited the Geelong’s Mission centre in North Shore. Most of these seafarers arrived into port on bulk ships, staying for two or three days.

Dan Gadd from Barwon Heads, is a marine controller with VRCA and a former tanker master who has visited Missions in his travels around the world and says the work it does is invaluable.

“When you’re so far away from home, it can be a real challenge. Knowing there is a place that understands those stresses and where you can relax amongst your peers is a necessity.”

According to Reverend Park, Geelong’s Mission to Seafarers like many others around the world, relies heavily on donations and is very appreciative of the support provided by organisations like VRCA.

VRCA has recently provided funding to replace one of the Mission to Seafarers’ vehicles and part of the funding to replace its main bus.

VRCA Chief Executive Officer, Michel Harvey said the Mission to Seafarers continues to play an important role for our port city.

“Sea Sunday is a significant day where we can pay tribute to millions of seafarers around the world, the important work they do and the important support of the Mission for Seafarers,” he said.

A happy seafarer is a safer and better seafarer.”

Reverend Park says if the public would like to support the Mission to mark Sea Sunday, donations of books, magazines, woollen beanies, second-hand clothes, bibles and Christmas gifts would be most appreciated.

“Seafarers have to be on-board the ship for months at a time and not only is it often a lonely and stressful time, travelling to different countries means that there are unpredictable and ever-changing seasons. Therefore, such gifts are most appreciated by seafarers.”

The Mission to Seafarers Geelong also relies heavily on volunteers. There are currently 30 volunteers who help with a variety of jobs including driving the Mission’s bus and also giving a hand in the canteen and library.

For more information, or to donate or volunteer with the Mission to Seafarers visit www.mts.org.au/geelong.

Pictured are Captain David Shennan (Marine Manager and Harbour Master), Reverend Noah Park (Chaplain of Geelong’s Mission to Seafarers) and a group of international seafarers

VRCA is pleased to announce that there will be no increase in channel fees for Geelong and Hastings for 2019/20.

At Geelong the base channel fee will remain at 44.0 cents per gross tonne.

At Hastings the base channel fee will reamin at 50.0 cents per gross tonne.

Click below for the full tariff schedule:

Geelong: Reference Tariff Schedule

Hastings: Reference Tariff Schedule

Victorian Regional Channels Authority has moved to new headquarters in North Geelong, in a strategic move which brings the Authority’s marine expertise together under the one roof.

The move coincides with the announcement of Captain David Shennan, as the new Marine Manager and Harbour Master for the Port of Geelong.

Located in the historic Federal Mills precinct on Mackey Street, Victorian Regional Channels Authority’s new headquarters will now contain harbour control for Geelong’s port waters, as well as the authority’s head office.

The Port of Geelong’s harbour control was previously based at GeelongPort’s Corio Quay office.

The move will also coincide with VRCA commencing the roll-out of a state-of-the-art Marine Traffic Management System.

All telephone numbers remain the same.

VRCA new location:

East 1E, 13-35 Mackey Street
North Geelong VIC 3215

Victorian Regional Channels Authority (VRCA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Captain David Shennan as Marine Manager and Harbour Master, Port of Geelong. Captain Shennan will join VRCA on 27th May 2019.

Captain Shennan brings a wealth of experience to the role being a Master Mariner and having previously served as the Harbour Master at the ports of Portland and Melbourne and Deputy Chief Executive and Harbour Master at Harwich Haven Authority in the United Kingdom.

Hundreds of high school students from the Geelong region and beyond took part in the annual Science and Engineering Challenge last week, as Victorian Regional Channels Authority celebrated 15 years as the major sponsor.

VRCA has sponsored the challenge since its Geelong inception in 2005, injecting almost $90,000 into the local community event which is designed to inspire our local innovators of the future and their appreciation of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths).

VRCA Chief Executive Officer, Michael Harvey said the Science and Engineering Challenge was an “exciting program which encouraged creativity, team work and problem solving”.

“For the port and the port users to remain as some of the most important drivers of Geelong’s prosperity, we need continued innovation and creativity,” he said.

“Science and engineering skills have a key role to play in making that happen and so we’ve been delighted to support this challenge every year, with the knowledge that it’s helping to excite the next generation that we hope will continue to build on the very strong legacy of the Port of Geelong.”

Mr Harvey said sponsorship of the challenge complemented VRCA’s education program which provides about 600 local students each year with the opportunity to visit the port and learn about how it operates and the role it plays in Geelong’s community and economy.

Victorian Regional Channels Authority undertakes periodic hydrographic surveys of port waters under its management. Based on the 2018 survey, VRCA commissioned an animated flow through of Geelong’s shipping channels to show what Corio Bay looks like under the water.