CHARTSCHEME 2025

SI 1017 covers an area of high environmental value and includes part of the West Cape York Marine Park, the Torres Strait Particularly Sensitive Sea Area and the Torres Strait Dugong Sanctuary. The area is home to one of the largest seagrass meadows in Australia, which provides vital grazing for dugongs and turtles.

A high density of shipping passes through this comparatively shallow area as vessels approach or depart the Torres Strait. Mitigating risk along these shipping routes has been the focus of adjacent ChartScheme projects SI 1004 (ChartScheme 2022) and SI 1005 (ChartScheme 2023). This survey (SI 1017) is designed to continue the work undertaken previously, improving charts in the area with quality bathymetric data using modern methods. Historical data collection in the area was undertaken by NATMAP (1990) and HMAS Moresby II (1970) and did not achieve full data coverage.

The area's shallow depths, which range from as little as 3 metres just South of Cook Reef to beyond the 20 metre contour, allowed this survey to be undertaken by an Airborne LiDAR Bathymetry system.

ENC's: AU411141 AU220140 AU130120

Paper Charts: Aus294 Aus296 Aus700 Aus842 Aus301 Aus4603 Aus4060

Number of affected products: 10

Torres Strait is a region of concentrated shipping, through a navigationally complex and strategically important area. SI 1028 encompasses both sections of the Two-Way Route leading into Prince of Wales Channel from the East. Two-Way Routes are internationally recognised ship routeing systems used to reduce the risk of collisions and groundings in major, high traffic shipping areas. 

SI 1028 connects recent charting projects of the Torres Strait Under-keel Clearance Management Area (SI 1005) to that of the Great North East Channel (SI 1006 and SI 1018), thereby providing a continuous extent of modern survey for vessels transiting through Torres Strait. SI 1028 extends South through Adolphus Channel, the Northern-most entrance to the Inner Great Barrier Reef. This is an area of dynamic seafloor with sand waves extending across the shipping channel. These sand waves, affected by the strong currents experienced through the channel, vary in depth and position over time.

SI 1028 lies within both the Torres Strait Particularly Sensitive Sea Area and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and is bordered by numerous reefs and rocky outcrops. This charting project will enhance navigational safety within the region and help protect this unique marine environment.

ENC's: AU411142 AU220140 AU130120

Paper Charts: Aus292 Aus 293 Aus839 Aus841 Aus700 Aus301 Aus4603 Aus4060

Number of affected products: 11

SI 1021 adjoins the Port of Brisbane Harbour Limits and the Northern section of the Moreton Bay Marine Park. It forms part of the approach to the Port of Brisbane, a major destination for container ships and bulk carriers, and is in close proximity to Mooloolaba, home to many sailing vessels, pleasure craft and fishing boats. As a result this area is transited by a substantial number of vessels.

Depths in the area generally exceed 20 metres and extend to 130 metres offshore. Charting for this locality is currently based on survey data recorded by NATMAP (1971) and limited low quality passage soundings. The area extends to capture the full extent of Barwon Bank to the 50 metre contour, as this has not been fully surveyed to modern standards. This charting project will significantly increase the accuracy of the data available to mariners navigating in the area.

ENC's: AU427153 AU230150 AU130150

Paper Charts: Aus236 Aus814 Aus815 Aus4602 Aus4643 Aus4060

Number of affected products: 9

Situated between the islands of the Kent Group and Flinders Island, SI 1030 lies in the path of major shipping routes between the North coast of Tasmania and East coast of the Australian mainland. The area lies on the Southern edge of the Beagle Marine Park and Kent Group National Park, which is a breeding sanctuary for the Australian fur seal and an important habitat for seabirds.

Depths in the area range from reefs and rocks that are awash at chart datum to over 70 metres. The existence of a significant number of rocks and shoals make the area particularly hazardous to navigation; a fact validated by the numerous shipwrecks located within or nearby that have foundered in the wild seas common to this region.

Until recently there has been little survey effort in this region. Aside from a small area covered by HMA Ships Leeuwin and Melville (2004), historical data is from NATMAP (1986-90), HMAS Warrego (1949-53) and HMAS Moresby I (1944). HIPP has expanded operations in the region with a major charting project of the Furneaux Group (SI 1032) completed in ChartScheme 2025, and four MultiBeam Echo Sounder (MBES) surveys along the South and East coast of the island group. These efforts will provide full bathymetric coverage and consequently greatly enhance the reliability of the nautical products used to navigate the region.

ENC's: AU440147 AU240140 AU160120

Paper Charts: Aus800 Aus802 Aus487 Aus4074 Aus4601 Aus4060

Number of affected products: 9

SI 1042 is a continuation of the HIPP survey effort along the inshore route that extends northwards from Broome through Lacepede Channel towards Cape Leveque and King Sound. The initial sections were completed under SI 1010 (HydroScheme 2020) and SI 1014 (ChartScheme 2023), with SI 1025 completed as part of ChartScheme 2024.

This charting area falls completely within the Kimberley Marine Park and the newly proposed Bardi Jawi Gaarra Marine Park. These parks are home to innumerable marine creatures including whales, dolphins and dugong, and many endangered seabirds and shorebirds.

Depths in this sensitive area are between zero and 40 metres, with a large number of shoals. A significant amount of shipping navigates through the area, mostly passing West of Alarm Shoal (Oorroondoorroon), and it is a concern as the area has not been recently surveyed. The most recent survey was conducted by NATMAP (1974-1975), though with limited detail, and prior to that by HMS Fantome (1909-1910).

ENC's: AU417122 AU417123 AU220120 AU130120

Paper Charts: Aus732 Aus733 Aus323 Aus4722 Aus4603 Aus4060

Number of affected products: 10

This is an offshore update complementing HIPP surveys in the area, expanding on previous updates around Cape Fourcroy under SI 1043 (ChartScheme 2024) and SI 1049 (ChartScheme 2025). The continued charting effort in this region will help to ensure the accuracy of the data for the approaches to Darwin, a highly trafficked and key strategic port. 

Depths in the area, which contains a number of shoals, range from approximately 12 metres to over 50 metres. This project will incorporate data from numerous surveys of greater accuracy and subsequently improve the quality of charts in the area.

The Northern section of the area lies within the Oceanic Shoals Marine Park, which is home to abundant and diverse sponge gardens, corals and marine life. Ensuring that the area is fully surveyed will allow high quality nautical products to be made available to mariners navigating the area, and as a result, help to ensure safe navigation through this sensitive region.

ENC's: AU411129 AU311130 AU412129 AU412130 AU413129 AU413130 AU220120 AU220130 AU130120

Paper Charts: Aus22 Aus309 Aus310 Aus316 Aus4603 Aus4060

Number of affected products: 15

Van Diemen Gulf forms the North-East approach to the Port of Darwin, which serves as the Northern gateway for a significant proportion of the Australasian trade network. Clarence Strait connects Van Diemen Gulf to Beagle Gulf, passing by the Vernon Islands, with numerous shoals and strong tidal streams making navigation challenging. The charted Recommended Track passes through the narrow Howard Channel.

The charting project is a continuation of SI 1003 and SI 1016 (ChartScheme 2023) and SI 1027 (ChartScheme 2024). As existing bathymetric data for the area was mostly acquired in 2001 using Single Beam Echo Sounders, this achievement will provide continuous high quality survey data acquired to modern standards. This will greatly improve the quality of the nautical charts for the region and thereby aid safe navigation.

ENC's: AU412131 AU413130 AU413131 AU220130 AU130120

Paper Charts: Aus20 Aus720 Aus309 Aus4603 Aus4060

Number of affected products: 10

This project borders SI 1043 (ChartScheme 2024) and SI 1055, which is also planned for ChartScheme 2025 and builds on the offshore areas to acquire full bathymetric coverage for the approaches to Darwin.

The Port of Darwin is a key port in the region and handles a large number of cattle, petroleum products and car shipments, in addition it hosts frequent cruise ship visits. Depths on the port’s approaches, range from approximately 20 metres to over 50 metres. However, a large amount of the survey area is very poorly surveyed; most being undertaken by HMAS Moresby I (1935-37). The continued survey effort in this region will therefore help to ensure that the nautical products available to mariners for use in the region, are complete and current.

Most of the charting project lies within the Oceanic Shoals Marine Park, which is characterised by submerged banks, terraces and pinnacles and is home to abundant and diverse sponge gardens, corals and marine life.

Ensuring that the charts in the area are updated with quality survey data will contribute to safeguarding this sensitive and unique region.

ENC's: AU412129 AU413129 AU220120 AU130120

Paper Charts: Aus309 Aus311 Aus4603 Aus4060

Number of affected products: 8

The Furneaux Group is a cluster of more than 50 islands and rocks located on the Eastern side of Bass Strait, the largest being Flinders, Cape Barren and Clarke Islands. More than 100 ships wrecks have been recorded along the coast of the Furneaux Group, which lies in the path of the strong winds associated with the Roaring Forties and the heavy seas they generate, making the island group a natural shipping hazard. Parts of the island group are very poorly charted, with historical surveys dating from 1872-73, 1953 and 1986-1987, using technology that was not able to ensure full feature detection.

This Charting project will incorporate the SI 1032 HIPP survey that is being conducted using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology, to chart the shallow coastal waters from an aircraft to depths of 20 metres.

ENC's: AU5FIW01 AU5LAB01 AU440147 AU440148 AU441147 AU441148 AU240140 AU250140 AU160120

Paper Charts: Aus179 Aus798 Aus800 Aus487 Aus4601 Aus4060 Aus4074

Number of affected products: 16

The Port of Townsville is northern Australia’s largest container and automotive port, and a growing cruise port, and provides a vital link for the mining, agricultural, construction, energy, general cargo, retail, Defence and tourism industries.

At just 92m wide, the shipping channel is one of the narrowest in the country and can only accommodate ships up to 238m in length. As ships get larger, the channel must be upgraded to allow vessels safe passage to the port, to ensure Townsville is not bypassed as a trade route.

The Channel Upgrade project will see the Platypus channel (Port end) widened to 180m, tapering to 120m offshore in the Sea Channel adjacent to Magnetic Island, to accommodate vessels up to 300m in length.

ENC's: AU6TSV01 AU6TSV02 AU6TSV03 AU6TSV04 AU5TSV01 AU420146 AU220140 AU130120

Paper Charts: Aus256 Aus827 Aus4602 Aus4603 Aus4604 Aus4060

Number of affected products: 14

Situated within the Coral Sea Marine Park, this project will update the deep sea plains and canyons of the Queensland Plateau.  The area excludes McDermott Bank (lying at a depth of approximately 21 metres and previously surveyed) and will focus on surveying depths ranging from 500 to 1500 metres.

Some surveys have been previously conducted in the region, most comprehensively in 1990-91 and more recently by RV Falkor in 2020- 2021. None however, have provided complete coverage of the seafloor, potentially leaving many submarine features such as seamounts and canyons, undiscovered and terrain which sustains Key Environmental Features (KEFs) within the marine park unknown.

ENC's: AU4615P1 AU4615P2 AU420150 AU318147 AU320149 AU220140 AU220150 AU130120 AU130150

Paper Charts: Aus615 Aus829 Aus4602 Aus4603 Aus4604 Aus4060

Number of affected products: 15

Situated to the north and east of SI 1049 (also scheduled for ChartScheme 2025), this project will supplement previous Chartscheme activities to acquire full bathymetric coverage. The area lies almost entirely within the Oceanic Shoals Marine Park, an ecologically sensitive and geologically unique region.

This charting project is situated in the offshore approaches to Darwin. The Port of Darwin plays and important role as Australia’s nearest port to Asia and is a vital northern hub for Australasian seaborne trade. It is also key in supporting the expansion of offshore oil and gas fields off the Western Australian coast. It handles a range of commercial shipping, and also cruise ships and naval vessels. This project will contribute to improving the navigation on the approach by replacing low quality historical surveys with data recorded using modern survey techniques

ENC's: AU411129 AU412129 AU220120 AU130120

Paper Charts: Aus309 Aus310 Aus311 Aus4603 Aus4060

Number of affected products: 9

An extensive LADS survey previously used to update the Duke of York Group (ChartScheme 2024) is the imputeus for updating poor quality data on the approaches to Blanche Bay (Rabaul) and the shallow coastal waters to Cape Gazelle. Previous charted updates in Simpson and Matupit Harbour have improved the quality of data into the Port of Rabaul (a major regional port) however minimal data still exists through the Approaches.

A new bathymetric surface comprising new and reassessed survey data will be used to link the existing A1 and A2 areas, ensuring marine traffic can safely transit on ZOC B or better through these coastal waters.

This update will be improve the quality of data for the approaches both east and north into Rabaul.

New Editions of the chart PNG 680 and associated ENC PG505152 will be compiled.

ENC's: PG5680P1 PG405152 AU210150 AU130150

Paper Charts: PNG680 PNG554 PNG545 Aus4622 Aus4604

Number of affected products: 9

A new MBES survey was conducted around the Santa Cruz Islands (Solomon Islands). The Santa Cruz Islands are the Solomon’s most south east island group. It is an area supporting local communities and the Solomon Islands Eastern Border Outpost.

This survey covers 3 areas around Ndende and Vanikolo Islsands improving safety and transit into several small port areas, enhancing marine navigation for local traffic, and the Solomon Island Government as it protects and polices its waters safely.

Area A off Ndende Island intends to improve the poorly surveyed waters approaching Lata wharf; while Areas B and C off Vanikolo Island will improve charting to Tevai and Numbuku Bays to the north and the transit through Pullu Passage to the south.

All these areas currently consist of poorly surveyed or unsurveyed waters.

ENC's: SB3107P1 AU220160 AU130150

Paper Charts: SLB107 Aus4604

Number of affected products: 5

The Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA) in conjunction with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are undertaking the "Solomon Islands ENC Project".

This capacity building project aims to both improve the quality of data in a number of Solomon Island port areas, commencing with the Approaches to Honiara.

JICA will provide the surveying expertise, which will improve the quality of data in Honiara while upskilling the local SIMA hydrographic team.

The survey area covers the extent of the Lungga Roads plan on SLB101 Paper Chart. The charted data in this area is currently ZOC B and C. A new multibeam survey of the area with subsequent updated navigational products will significantly improve the safety of navigation in and out of the Port of Honiara and the transit through adjacent waters.

ENC's: SB5101P1 SB410159 SB410160 AU210160 AU210150 AU130150

Paper Charts: SLB101 SLB201 SLB303 SLB304 Aus4604

Number of affected products: 11

This is an example of a charting project within the ChartScheme story map.

Planned - A program of charting work is to be undertaken.

Underway - Updates to affected products have commenced.

Completed - Charting project is completed and all affected products have been updated and published.

Postponed - Charting project has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.

Affected Products Map: Is shown above on the left hand pane, it will show all the affected existing products and proposed new products within this charting project. The hydrographic survey extent is also shown in light grey as well as a project identifier. Expand the map, zoom in and out with the mouse scroll to see all affected products.

General information on the particular ChartScheme Project will be provided to explain the reason why the area is being updated.

Comparison Map: The comparison map to the right will show the difference between the updated area before and after the hydrographic survey information has been updated.

This can been seen using the "Swipe" function in the map. All changes will be seen when the charting project status is at "Completed" and the right side of the comparison map has a "Green" polygon, as shown in this example. Some changes may been seen in the basemap before the charting project is completed as ENC products may have already been published.

Expand the map for a better zooming experience.

A list of the affected ENC's and Paper Chart products will also be provided, for this example the affected products are listed.

ENC's: AU416123 AU412424 AU22012 AU130120

Paper Charts: Aus730 Aus732 Aus320 Aus323 Aus4722 Aus4603

Green: Product Number denotes updated published product OR survey impact assessment completed and no update action required.

Yellow: Product Number denotes a product that is in the process of being updated.

Number of affected products: 10