Northern Territories passage information Traffic
Traffic within the Beaufort Bay is concentrated within three main areas, Dunbarton, Port Fraser and the Synka Oil Terminal. Operators of Small Craft should remain vigilant when operating in areas of high-traffic density. It is recommended that local VTS VHF radio channels be monitored when navigating in the vicinity of harbours. Large vessels bound for Port Fraser will enter the bay via the Farlow Channel, follow the buoyed channel outside of the main islands, and pass S of both Back Shoal and Hill Shoal before approaching Port Fraser from the SWM. Vessels over 100m LOA bound for Synka Oil Terminal or Dunbarton must approach from the westbound traffic lane and use the Falls Deep Channel. The Fraser-Fitzroy ferries use the most efficient route through the various sounds depending on tidal stream and weather. High- speed ferries operate within the bay at speeds of up to 40kn and mariners are advised to keep a good lookout.
Deep-draught vessels
The charted channels and deep-water tracks between Lawrence Channel and Haire Sound are those recommend by the Beaufort Bay Navigation Service for tankers under pilotage proceeding to and from the Synka Oil Terminal. Due to the possible tidal effects, vessels may need to steer noticeably different courses to those shown in order to maintain the recommended tracks. Radar surveillance of these channels is continuously maintained.
Precautionary area
All vessels over 150m in length operating in the precautionary area E of Synka Island are given a MOVING PROHIBITED ZONE of 1000m ahead and 100m either side of the vessel. Vessels less than 20m in length are prohibited from entering this ZONE.
Tidal streams within Beaufort Bay
The major mass of water flows in and out of the Farlow Channel. This has the effect of creating an anticlockwise flow around the bay on the flooding stream and clockwise flow during the ebb stream. Rates in the deep-water channels reach around 2kn at springs but local rates around the islands reach rates exceeding 3kn.
Cape Woodward to Misery Point
Vessels proceeding along the northern part of the Lawrence Channel in the Inshore Traffic Zone have three major headlands to pass, W to E, Cape Woodward, South Head and Misery Point, as well as the TSS of the Farlow Channel to navigate. As noted on page 29, the waters around Cape Woodward require due navigational respect due to the unmarked, offlying dangers. South Head with its conspic Lt Ho (W O twr with B top), [Oc(2)10s45m15M] and Guillemot Island (Lt Ho B&W O twr with vert bands) [Fl.G.2.5s38m10M] are both clear of dangers to the S. Misery Point with its Lt Ho (B&W horizontal banding), [Fl.10s34m25M] has rocks extending several cables SW and S of the point. A tidal race extends over a mile to the S of the light.
Northern Lawrence Channel tidal streams The flood stream moves from W to E along the channel reaching rates of up to 3.5kn in the main channel at springs; rates of up to 5kn have been recorded close to Misery Point. Generally there is a short period of slack water in the channel before the W going ebb starts; its rates are similar to the flood stream. The direction of the stream in Lawrence Channel is rectilinear in nature.
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