Shipping management

Melbourne Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) (located in the port on the Yarra River) and Lonsdale VTS (located at Point Lonsdale) provide a 24-hour service to ensure the safe and efficient movement of shipping within port waters. This includes all necessary coordination of port services and dissemination of relevant information.

The Duty Vessel Traffic Service Officer, who is authorised to exercise the functions of the Harbour Master, is in complete charge of all Harbour Control functions and is accountable directly to the Harbour Master.

VTS operatorsuse a range of equipment to monitor ship movements including radar tracking, VHF and other radio communications, closed circuit television and mobile and conventional telephones.

Booking and managing shipping services
As well as controlling the movement of shipping in Port Phillip Bay , Melbourne VTS plays a pivotal role in the delivery of vital services to port users.

Shipping agents can contact the centre for berth allocation and to organise tugs, linesmen, lines boats and pilots. Centre staff book all the necessary services and make any amendments to accommodate schedule changes, ensuring the fair allocation of resources to all commercial vessels and service providers at all times.

Pilotage is compulsory for commercial shipping. Pilots, tugs, lines boats and linesmen are provided by private commercial organisations.

Contact details
Shipping Management Centre
331-337 Lorimer Street
Port Melbourne VIC 3207

Tel: +61 3 9644 9700
Fax: +61 3 9644 9710

Shipping movements
You can view up-to-date shipping information via the Shipping Movements section on this website,  or ETA and ETD  by phone and fax from the Port of Melbourne’s interactive voice recorder.

For Melbourne information:
Tel: +61 3 9612 3590

For Geelong information:
Tel: +61 3 5226 6283