What is Hydrographers Passage – Important Things You Should Know

The Hydrographer’s Passage is a 60-mile or 100-km-long passage that goes through the Great Barrier Reef. The Royal Australian Navy surveyed it in 1981 to offer a direct connection between Mackay and North Queensland ports and the Coral Sea.

It was opened to navigation in 1984 however ships crossing it must be guided by licensed pilots. The Hydrographers Passage is a deepwater shipping gateway which decreased the distance for ships by 250 miles.

It is a vital waterway, which serves as a corridor for maritime traffic by linking key facilities in the region and beyond. It has also been a topic of interest among environmentalists and researchers for several years.

This article will explore Hydrographers Passage including its importance in maritime navigation and its rich history in shipping.

1. Discovered in 1981 by Commander of Survey Ship HMAS Flinders

Graham James Bond, an officer of the Royal Australian Navy’s Survey Vessel HMAS Flinders found the Hydrographers Passage in 1981, which makes it a relatively new shipping route.

His duties included surveying the coasts of Papua New Guinea and Queensland when he stumbled upon this route.

In 1981, he charted the 60-mile-long Hydrographers Passage, a newly found shipping route which went through the Great Barrier Reef. It was a valuable discovery, as it decreased the distance of the earlier route used for shipping Coal from the Port of Hay Point to Asia by 250 miles.

Four years later, he was awarded a gold medal by the Royal Geographical Society for his achievement and was also promoted to the rank of commander. He resigned from the Navy in 1988.

In 1993, he worked for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority till 2013 and specialised in navigation and ship safety.

2. The Historic Inaugural Transit of Hydrographers Passage in 1984

As per records, the Hydrographers Passage saw its first transit on December 21, 1984, when a 61,000-tonne Bulk Carrier, World Jade travelling from Japan to Hay Point reached the seaward entrance to the passage.

With the guidance of marine pilot Donald Grant and his colleagues Captains Eric Whittleton and John Foley, the ship made its way safely from the Coral Sea to the coal loading facility at Hay Point. The master of World Jade, Captain Bob McKechnie was happy to make history by inaugurating a new shipping passage.

The transit was smooth, the weather was pleasant, the wind was light and the skies were clear with great visibility. The ship followed the planned route between White Tip and Bond Reefs, past Little Bugatti, Bugatti and Creal Reefs and steamed to Hay Point.

This 10-hour journey was a milestone in the maritime history of Australia and signalled the opening of new opportunities.

The event was recorded by a helicopter and even a seaplane.

This new channel was a great achievement as it provides a careful route through the Great Barrier Reef and offers vessels loading at the Central Queensland coal ports with a direct exit into the Coral Sea waters.

For hundreds of bulk carriers loaded with coal, it decreased the length of the voyage by 250 miles.

3. An important shipping route connecting to the Coral Sea

Hydrographers Passage offers a track through the Great Barrier Reef in Central Queensland, linking the ports of Hay Point and Dalrymple Bay as well as Mackay with the Coral Sea.

Hydrographers Passage is located off the coast of Central Queensland, Australia and is a significant gateway for ships crossing this ecologically sensitive area.

It allows for a navigable path along this UNESCO World Heritage Site, providing a safer route for ships sailing between the ports of Hay Point, Dalrymple Bay, Mackay and the Coral Sea.

The path is laid to avoid harming the coral reefs and shallow regions of the Great Barrier Reef, known for its cays, underwater formations and marine biodiversity.

4. Site of Strategic Ports and Harbours

Port of Hay Point, Australia

It is one of the biggest coal exporting facilities in the world. It lies about 40 km south of Mackay and serves the coal mines of Central Queensland’s Bowen Basin.

It has two terminals namely the Hay Point Coal Terminal and the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal.
The former is part of a joint venture between BHP and Mitsubishi Development and can handle over 55 million tonnes of coal for export annually.

The latter was built by the Queensland Government and can handle 84.2 million tonnes of coal annually. The coal from the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal is exported to more than 25 nations, mainly China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea and India.

The port has expanded rapidly in the last two decades and now mainly ships metallurgical coal, vital for making steel.

The port terminals boast purpose-built rail in-loading facilities, onshore stockpiling space, offshore wharves with conveyor systems and jettied that go into the sea, allowing loading operations in deep waters.

Port of Mackay

The 800-hectare port is Queenland’s 4th biggest multi-commodity facility by throughput, serving the region’s mining and agriculture industries. It comes under the purview of North Queensland Bulk Ports.

Mackay is known as Australia’s largest sugar-producing region, hence the port also boasts one of the largest bulk sugar terminals in the world.

The port also serves small craft apart from international ships. The Mackay Marina is a private facility with 479 berths and a lift-out shipyard.

Mackay Port has 4 well-sheltered wharves in Mackay Harbour and its geographical position makes it a key logistics transport solution for trade requirements. It is well connected by roadways, railways and by ships or barges.

It offers easy accessibility to Whitsunday, Central Highlands and coal fields regions, and the rest of the world through its break-bulk port.

The main commodities handled here include sugar, grain, scrap metal, fuel, magnetite, coal and fertilisers. It has an annual cargo handling capacity of over 6 million tonnes.

5. Hydrographers Passage has several shipwrecks

The narrow channel in the Great Barrier Reef is home to shipwrecks which have turned into popular dive sites, while a few are protected and cannot be visited as they are an important part of the region’s maritime history and must be preserved.

SS Yongala

SS Yongala, also called Australia’s Titanic vanished in 1911 during an unexpected cyclone with 122 people onboard. The 100 m long steamship was found in 30 m waters off Alva Beach in the 1950s.

It is one of the most intact shipwrecks in Australia and scientists are exploring how it began to support a variety of species, especially corals. It is known as one of the best wreck dives in the world.

SS Gothenburg

Another famous shipwreck on the Great Barrier Reef is SS Gothenburg, a 60-m-long steamship built in the United Kingdom in 1854. It operated a passenger service between Australia and New Zealand and between Adelaide and Darwin later.

On its last voyage, it was coming from Darwin to Melbourne with 37 crew members and 98 guests, some of Darwin’s most elite, and 93 kg gold when it encountered rough weather causing it to strike a reef near Townsville. Help came late and only 22 people made it out alive. The wreck was discovered in 1971 in 16 m of water.

HMS Pandora

This Royal Navy Ship hunted Bounty mutineers in the 1790s and after months of searching the South Pacific and nabbing just 14 of them, the captain decided to return home via the Torres Strait.

However, the frigate ran aground on a reef and sank in 30 m of water, killing a mutineer and 35 crew members. The ship was found well-preserved in 1977 with artefacts like a cannon, ivory instruments, rope, cloth pieces and ceramics. It is one of the earliest shipwrecks on the Great Barrier Reef.

6. The Creal Reef Light guides ships coming into Hydrographers Passage

The Creal Reef Light is a functional lighthouse at Creal Reef around 150 km east of Mackay in Queensland, Australia. It helps in guiding ships going from Mackay into the Hydrographers Passage.

It comprises a 21 m stainless steel tower having a white lantern, which is also a mark and has a racon. Its height as measured from the ground to the top is 34.5 m and an automatic weather station is also located near it.

The structure flashes a white light every 7.5 seconds which can be seen for 19 nautical miles or 35 km. The source of light is a halogen lamp and the racon transmits more code for 16 nautical miles.

It is operated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. The reef can only be accessed by boat, and the site and the tower are closed to the public.

7. Enjoys a tropical climate all year round

The Great Barrier Reef area experiences a tropical climate, ranging from 23°C to 31°C (73°F to 88°F) throughout the year. The monsoon season lasts from November to April with heavy rains, high humidity and a likelihood of storms. The dry season from May to October is quite pleasant, with calm waters. It is also the best time for sailing in this passage.

Tidal currents can be strong, especially during transition periods of high and low tides. The region is influenced by coral sea currents, including the East Australian Current which can impact navigation.

The tidal range is moderate however it is vital to monitor their timings to avoid groundings and ensure safe passage through the waterway as some places can become quite shallow during low tide.

8. Has a variety of coral reef species and other marine life

Hydrographers Passage has many coral species of hard and soft corals including staghorn corals, brain corals, sea fans, leather corals etc which support clownfish, surgeonfish, snapper and parrotfish.

Pelagic fish like mackerel and tuna can be found in some areas. Crustaceans like lobsters and crabs also inhabit the region as do starfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, molluscs, sea slugs and clams.

Dugongs can be seen in the area, and also some whale species, green turtles, loggerheads and hawksbill turtles which come to the coral reefs for resting and nesting purposes. There can be jellyfish blooms occasionally, including box jellyfish.

9. Commercial Fishing Activities are restricted in the Hydrographers Passage

The areas around the passage like Bugatti Reef and whitetip reefs offer sheltered anchorage and are ideal for fishing trips. However, commercial fishing is regulated to ensure the sustainability of the ecosystem.

Several areas in the passage are divided into various zones with different regulations, with a few being no-take zones where fishing is prohibited while others allow for more controlled fishing with licences issued by the government and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

Catch limits and quotas are specified for each species to manage fish stocks and prevent overfishing and gear restrictions are in place which specify the kind of fishing equipment that can and cannot be used to prevent bycatch of endangered species.

Fishers also need to report the catch and comply with the restrictions. Target species in the region include coral trout, Spanish mackerel and other reef fish.

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About Author

Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.

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