Authorities say it is business as usual in the shipping channel off Caloundra, despite a long-term local witnessing what she described as an unprecedented event.
Resident Lesley Evans took a photo of what appeared to be one ship giving way to another at the turning point near Bribie Island.
She said many locals couldn’t recall a similar incident there, prompting concern that sand from breakthroughs of the weather-battered isle was building up in the shipping channel.
“Caloundra’s early morning walkers were interested that the ship heading into Brisbane actually stopped and waited for the one heading north to pass Bribie,” she said.
“Once the northerly-bound one passed the turning point, both proceeded on their paths.
“Long-time residents don’t remember seeing ships actually stop and wait their turn to pass Bribie.
“Could it be that the destruction of Bribie is filling the shipping channel with sand?”
But a Port of Brisbane spokesperson said there was no cause for concern.
“PBPL (Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd) conducts hydrographic surveying of the North-West Channel every 90 days. There has been no build-up of sedimentation in the channel and therefore no impact to channel capacity,” they said.
“This surveying does not directly assess the breakthroughs but it would clearly show if the sand that has been displaced at northern Bribie Island was settling in the channel, which it isn’t.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Transport and Main Roads, which incorporates Maritime Safety Queensland, confirmed the vessels were OOCL Miami, heading north from Brisbane, and vehicle carrier Amber Arrow, heading south to Brisbane.
The spokesperson said it was not unusual for cargo ships to give way to one another within the shipping corridor.
“All large ship movements are subject to passing restrictions at various locations, including the North-West Channel, at the northern end of Bribie Island, during their pilotage to and from the Port of Brisbane,” they said.
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“The safe movement of ships is managed by Maritime Safety Queensland, through its Brisbane Vessel Traffic Centre and overseen by MSQ’s regional harbour master, Brisbane.
“This is achieved through a combination of vessel scheduling and real-time adjustments to a ship’s speed through advice provided by the embarked marine pilots.
“There have been no recent changes to these long-established traffic protocols.”
The Port of Brisbane is planning to widen and deepen the shipping corridor in and out of Brisbane via the multibillion-dollar Channel Enhancement Project.
The project is expected to increase marine safety and efficiency for all vessels and future-proof the port to accommodate the global trend of larger and deeper vessels.
The Port of Brisbane spokesperson said it would make a significant difference.
“An enhanced shipping channel will not only add depth to ensure larger vessels – which we know are coming – can transit to Brisbane but the additional width will ensure a safer transit in the channel,” they said.
