Lost shipping containers and debris

When

Navigation warning

On Sunday 24 May 2020 vessel APL England lost 50 shipping containers overboard about 36 nautical miles east off Port Botany, at an approximate position 34° 11”.56 South and 151° 55”.13 East, while transiting the Tasman Sea along the NSW coast.

While some shipping containers and their contents have been recovered, others remain lost and their exact location is unknown, therefore they represent a serious hazard to navigation.

Containers have been located ashore and in offshore waters between Norah Head in the north and Tathra in the south.

Debris associated with the shipping containers has been located ashore and in offshore waters between Seal Rocks in the north and Tathra in the south.

There may be more shipping containers and debris within the area detailed above.

Vessel operators and persons using NSW coastal waters generally should be alert to the potential for shipping containers and debris to spread beyond waters between Seal Rocks and Tathra.

All vessel operators and persons using the waters detailed above should keep a proper lookout and exercise extreme caution, and wear a lifejacket when operating a vessel.

This navigation advice remains in place until further notice.

Directions

Transport for NSW advises:

• Persons within the vicinity of these waterways must comply with any directions given by a Boating Safety Officer or Police Officer in relation to marine safety. Failure to comply with any such direction is an offence (Marine Safety Act 1998, s.15A - Maximum Penalty $3,300.00). 

Maps and charts affected

To see the area affected, refer to:

• Transport for NSW Boating Maps – 1 to 14 inclusive
• AUS charts –  805 to 813 inclusive.

AUS charts are official paper nautical charts published by the Australian Hydrographic Office (AHO), Australia's national charting authority.