Goldfields/Esperance notices

Mariners are advised that the Public Boat Ramp at Bandy Creek Boat Harbour, Esperance will be closed between Tuesday 1 April and Wednesday 2 April 2025. This is to allow for the assembly and launch of the Harbour Dredge.

Mariners are advised that maintenance dredging works at Bandy Creek Boat Harbour will commence 1st of April 2025 and will proceed until approximately beginning of July 2025.

Dredging will occur Monday to Sunday between the hours of 7:00AM and 7:00PM. Works will commence later on Sundays and public holidays, between the hours of 9:00AM and 7:00PM.

The works are being carried out by a 22m cutter suction dredge “Cooper II” equipped with 400m of floating and submerged pipeline marked with yellow buoys, displaying rhythmic flashing lights. The pipe exits from the rear and extends behind the barge, 70m of the pipeline floats and the remaining pipeline will be submerged, allowing for vessels to pass above. The dredge has no self propulsion and uses anchors and spuds to move. Dredged material will be disposed on Castletown Beach for beach nourishment works.

The dredge and connected pipeline will remain unmanned in operation after normal operational hours for the duration of works.

The dredge will exhibit shapes and lights in accordance with the prevention of collisions at sea regulations 1983.

If mariners are unsure of where to safely pass the dredge vessel, they are requested to contact the operators who will be monitoring the following radio frequencies:

VHF Channel 16 and 74

A directional wave buoy (DWRB) has been deployed approximately 7.4 nautical miles offshore from Esperance at the location below. The DWRB is yellow in colour, approximately 700mm in diameter, and equipped with a 2m whip antenna and flashing yellow light.

Flash rate: Fl (5) Y 20s

Mariners are requested to maintain a minimum distance of 100 meters from the DWRB, including any associated fishing equipment at all times so as to not interfere with or damage the DWRB.