Swan and Canning Rivers

Mariners are advised that diving operations will be undertaken at Fremantle Rail Bridge and Guildford Rail Bridge from 28 May 2025 to 20 June 2025.

Works will be conducted Monday to Friday during daylight hours (excluding public holidays).

Access to the navigation span of the bridges will be maintained as normal and disruption will be minimal.

Works will commence at the Fremantle Rail Bridge and, upon completion, will proceed to the Guildford Rail Bridge. Each location is expected to require approximately five days to complete.

Operations will be undertaken from diving support vessel “Bullshark” which will also be used as a spotter vessel to communicate with vessels as required. 

The international code flag “A” will be exhibited whilst diving operations are in progress.

Operators will monitor Marine VHF Channel 16 for initial communications and VHF Channel 9 for directions and communication between operators and passing vessel traffic. 

Mariners are advised to maintain a proper lookout and reduce wake while navigating through the bridges.

Mariners are hereby advised that the Canning River water ski area at Deepwater Point has been set aside for an aquatic event approved by DoT under 51c of the Navigable Waters Regulations 1958.

The following area is closed to water skiing activities and the speed limited to 5 knots as rowers will be competing in the 'Rowing WA Canning Classic” during the following date, time and location:

Sunday 8^th June 2025 from 07:00 AM to 2:00 PM between Deep Water Point to Canning Bridge.

Mariners are advised to navigate with caution and adhere to the 5-knot speed limit when transiting the area during the above times.

Mariners are advised that the port beacon number 3325 upstream of the Belmont Waterski area is currently Unlit, please use caution.

Mariners are advised that maintenance works on the Mount Henry Bridge over Canning River are scheduled to take place from 5 May 2025, continuing until 20/10/2025.

The works will be conducted Monday to Friday based from a 12m barge. The barge will be typically moored outside of the navigational channel however some minor, partial obstruction to the navigational channel is expected. There will also be a secondary 7m Barge and a 5m rescue/spotter vessel involved in the works.

All vessels taking part in these works will display shapes and lights in accordance with the Prevention of Collisions at Sea Regulations 1983 at all times. Operators will monitor Marine VHF Channel16 during operating hours.

For further information regarding these works please contact Timothy Chin on 0448 411 402.

When transiting through the works area, Mariners are advised to exercise caution and are requested to reduce speed and wake and to take direction from signage and spotter vessels.

Mariners are advised that remediation works and life extension of the existing sheet pile wall behind the Barrack Street Jetty, Swan River are to commence from 28 April to 30 June 2025.

Work will be conducted Monday to Friday between 7am and 5pm.

Operations will be undertaken from a 10-meter self-propelled barge and will be accompanied by dive support vessel, to assist divers in the water.

The international code flag “A” will be exhibited whilst diving operations are in progress.

Operators will monitor Marine radio VHF Channel 16.

Mariners are advised to maintain a proper lookout when navigating in the area and keep a safe distance from the above works

Mariners are advised that navigational aid replacement works are about to commence on Monday 7 April 2025 and will last for approximately 2 weeks.

These works involve the use of a works barge'Longreach' operating between the hours of 7:00 am and 4:30pm daily
This will involve removing and replacing small navigational aids in the South Perth, Canning Bridge and East Fremantle areas.

Please use caution when passing and reduce your wash and wake in the vicinity of the works barge.

Mariners are advised that the Barrack Square Starboard Beacon has been hit by a vessel and is now on a lean. Please navigate with caution.

Mariners are advised that maintenance works are to be conducted on the Garrat Road traffic bridge from Tuesday 18th March 2025 to Thursday 31st July 2025 between the hours of 7am to 6pm and occasionally on Saturdays.

Mariners are advised that operations in the navigational span are anticipated to commence on the 12th of May.

Operations will be undertaken from a 5.9m Aluminium Monohull which will move between the shoreline to the floating scaffolding underneath the bridge.

Yellow buoys equipped with yellow flashing lights will be installed upstream and downstream from the works and will remain in place for the duration of the works. The light pattern will be 0.5 seconds on followed by 1 second off (Flash Code 1).

Operators will monitor Marine VHF Channel 16.

Mariners are advised to keep a safe distance from works at all times.

Mariners are advised that a 14 metre vessel (Valthora) has sunk on its mooring in Bull Creek.

Mariners are advised to navigate with caution when in the vicinity.

Mariners are hereby advised that the following area is closed to swimming and to passive craft that have the potential to capsize and listed below in the following area 
from 1st September 2024 to 1st September 2025 between the hours of 7am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday inclusive:

Passive Craft:
• All paddle craft including, stand-up paddle boards, 
  kayaks, rowing vessels
• Sailing dinghies, windsurfers
• Hydrofoil boards

Location;
All the waters of the Swan River that are approximately 720 metres upstream of the Fremantle Traffic Bridge and approximately 846 metres downstream of the Fremantle Traffic Bridge, bound by a line between 32°02.192' S, 115°45.735' E (117 metres upstream of Dome Café) and 32°02.219' S, 115°45.540' E, (40 metres downstream of Gilbert Fraser Reserve) and upstream of a line between 32°02.778' S, 115°44.909' S and 32°02.628' S, 115°44.704' E, within the Fremantle Inner harbour.

All coordinates based on GDA2020.

For more information, please click on the link below.

Mariners are advised that a new lit yellow marker buoy (Fl 3s) has been placed 50 meters from the Old Swan Brewery Jetty to indicate an 8-knot speed limit zone.

Please proceed with caution when transiting this area.

Mariners are advised that three Shark Monitoting Bouys are scheduled to be deployed in the Swan and Canning Rivers on 11 Dec 2023 in following locations:

East Freemantle 32°2.4180S 115°45.5760E
Blackwall Reach 32°0.9840S 115°47.0580E
Canning Bridge 32°0.7284S 115°51.27600E

The above buoys are yellow meridian spar buoys equipped with a flashing yellow light.

Flash rate: Fl Y 4s

Mariners are advised to navigate with caution and keep well clear of the above buoys.

Mariners are advised that 6x subsurface receivers are scheduled to be deployed in the Swan River on or around Wednesday 13 December 2023 at the following locations:

Port of Fremantle - River mouth: 23: 3.307S, 115: 44.159E
Minim Cove Park: 32: 1.384S, 115: 45.994E
Bicton Baths: 32: 1.624S, 115: 46,580E
Keane's Point: 32: 0.074S, 115: 46.587E
Mosman Bay: 32: 0,636S, 115: 46.564E
Melville Waters: 32: 0.242S, 115: 49.074E

The above receivers consist of a receiver secured to a subsurface float which are attached to a concrete block and protrude approximately 1.5m above the riverbed. Each site will have a minimum clearance of 5.5 metres.

Recovery date: March 2026

No vessel is to interfere with the above receivers and associated equipment at any time.

Mariners are advised to navigate with caution when transiting the area and keep well clear of the above receivers and associated equipment at all times.

Mariners are advised that an environmental monitoring buoy has been deployed on a temporary basis at the following location:

31: 59.992S, 115: 50.585E

The above marker buoy is yellow in colour (special mark), approximately 1.5m in height and equipped with flashing yellow light.

Mariners are advised to navigate with caution and keep clear of the above monitoring buoy.

Warning - Leeuwin Cadet Jetty - Swan River East Fremantle

Description: Mariners are advised that the current condition of the Leeuwin Cadet Jetty is condemned and not safe to moor alongside.

Location: 32° 1.565'S, 115° 46.100'E Chart reference: Department of Transport chart WA898 - Swan and Canning Rivers
- Start date:17/04/2023
- Issued: 17/04/2023
- Number: 4867

Mariners are advised that shark tagging will occur in various locations in the Swan and Canning Rivers from 30th March 2023 onwards.

Non buoyant long lines of up to 200m will be deployed parallel to the river bank for approximately two hours at a time. Where possible, the lines will be deployed outside of navigational channels and to the outer limits or the river however sharks and river conditions could mean the equipment is dragged on to channels. The end of the lines will be fitted with a vertical riser with a white float and reflective tape at the water surface. During the deployment, the equipment will be monitored by vessel at all times.

Mariners and divers are reminded to exercise caution and not interfere with fishing equipment.

A submerged hazard has been reported close to the shore, approx. 30m west of the Coode Street Boat Ramp.

Port of Perth
Vessel masters are reminded that all vessels wishing to transit or operate within the port limit which either:

Have a LOA of 35 meters or greater; or
Are engaged in towing operations where the total length of the tow (measured from the bow of the towing vessel to the stern of the towed vessel) is 35 metres or greater.
Are required to engage the services of a suitably licensed marine pilot or the vessel Master must be the holder of a current Port of Perth Pilot Exemption Certificate.

Vessels, vessel Masters or operators of vessels affected by this requirement are invited to approach the Department of Transport Harbour Masters office at port.ops@transport.wa.gov.au to apply for a Pilot Exemption Certificate to be issued.

Perth Water, Swan River
Mariners are advised of daylight sea plane operations, including landing and take-off activities, in Perth Water.

The landing and take-off areas (depending on wind conditions) are south of Riverside Drive channel and east of the Mends Street channel.

Chart reference: DoT Chart WA - 898'Swan and Canning River'. Mariners are advised to navigate with caution when transiting the above area and be aware of sea plane activity in this location.

Swan River, Fremantle traffic bridge
Mariners are advised that large vessels may at times navigate downstream through the southern span of the Fremantle Traffic Bridge against the flow of traffic. This may occur whilst access through the Central and Northern navigable spans are restricted due to tidal influences or closures due to ongoing works.

Mariners are advised to keep a safe speed and lookout, and navigate with caution when transiting upstream through the southern span of the Fremantle Traffic Bridge.