Wharves and moorings in Frances Bay, Darwin

Introduction

This section has information for commercial and recreational boat owners and operators who want to use the wharves and mooring facilities in Frances Bay, Darwin. 

This includes all of the following facilities: 

  • Fishermans Wharf
  • Raptis Wharf
  • Hornibrooks Pontoon
  • careening poles
  • Frances Bay Mooring Basin
  • Sadgroves Creek.

You can find information in this section about all of the following: 

  • where to berth, moor or refuel a boat
  • how to book a berth, mooring or a refuelling berth
  • how to apply for a hot work permit
  • charges for using these facilities.

Berths, moorings and refuelling facilities

All berthing, refuelling and mooring facilities must be booked in advance.

Read how to book a berth, mooring or a refuelling berth.

Read the list of charges to berth or moor a vessel.

Where to berth

Read below for a list of places where you can berth.

Frances Bay Mooring Basin

The Frances Bay Mooring Basin, commonly called the Duck Pond, is a marina mostly used for fishing and commercial vessels.

The basin is tide-free and accessed through a 35m by 16m lock.

It has 85 berths for vessels up to 30m long. It has showers and toilets but no fuel facilities.

If you want to do hot work there you must apply for a hot work permit.

Fishermans Wharf

Fishermans Wharf is a 200m wharf for fishing, commercial and recreational vessels.

Fishing and other commercial vessels have priority over recreational vessels.

Power and water are available.

At Fishermans Wharf vessels can do any of the following:

  • take on fuel
  • load and unload cargo
  • access power and water.

Long vessels

Vessels over 35m must have pilotage unless the vessel master has a valid pilotage exemption certificate.

To arrange pilotage, contact the Darwin Port at least 24 hours before arrival. For contact details and instructions go to the pilotage services page on the Darwin Port website.

You must confirm pilotage with the small ships scheduler before you berth on Fishermans Wharf.

Crane weight limits

Before you use a mobile crane to load and unload cargo you must get approval from the wharf supervisor first.

Get approval by emailing wharf.supervisor@nt.gov.au. Include in your email:

  • size of crane - maximum SWL of 30t is permitted
  • crane name and/or logistics company name
  • Job hazard analysis (JHA)
  • traffic management plan.

Charges

Berthing to take on fuel is free for two hours if bunkering is the sole purpose of berthing and all crew remain on the vessel. The daily rate will be applied after two hours.

Berthing to unload fishing cargo is free for the first eight hours if booked in advance with the small ships scheduler. The daily rate will be charged after eight hours.

Cargo operations on other commercial vessels is free for the first three hours. The daily rate will be charged after three hours.

Refer to the list of charges to berth or moor a vessel.

Raptis Wharf

Raptis Wharf is 50m long and runs adjacent to Fishermans Wharf.

It can be used for berthing, loading and unloading but there are no fuelling, power or water facilities.

Crane weight limits

Before you use a mobile crane to load and unload cargo you must get approval from the wharf supervisor first.

Get approval by emailing wharf.supervisor@nt.gov.au. Include in your email:

  • size of crane - maximum SWL of 60t is permitted
  • crane name and/or logistics company name
  • JHA
  • traffic management plan.

Unloading fishing cargo is free for the first eight hours if booked in advance with the small ships scheduler. The daily rate will be charged after eight hours.

Cargo operations on other commercial vessels is free for the first three hours. The daily rate will be charged after three hours.

Refer to the list of charges to berth or moor a vessel.

Hornibrooks Pontoon

Hornibrooks Pontoon is a floating pontoon adjacent to Fishermans Wharf.

You can access the pontoon via a footbridge from Hornibrooks Wharf.

Mangroves grow close to Hornibrooks Pontoon so be aware of under-keel clearance.

Unloading fishing cargo is free for the first eight hours if booked in advance with the small ships scheduler. The daily rate will be charged after eight hours.

Cargo operations on other commercial vessels is free for the first three hours. The daily rate will be charged after three hours.

Refer to the list of charges to berth or moor a vessel.

Careening poles

There are careening poles next to Hornibrooks Pontoon in front of the Toll Marine wall.

Water is available but you will need to supply your own power.

The poles are for vessels up to 28m long and under 40 tonnes.

You may be allowed to berth a multi-hull vessel that weighs over 40 tonnes if it does not rely on the poles for upright stability.

Hot work

If you want to do any hot work while your vessel is careened you must book the poles at least 72 hours in advance through the small ships scheduler.

You will need to apply for a hot work permit. You must not start work until the permit is approved by the wharf supervisor.

Where to refuel

You can refuel at Fishermans Wharf.

The wharf has five diesel bowsers and one unleaded petrol bowser.

Phone Bailey's Marine on (08) 8941 3320 to book a bowser or go to the Bailey's Marine website.

You will need to pre-book bunkering space with the small ships scheduler before confirming your fuel booking.

You don't need to pay berthing charges if refuelling takes less than two hours and crew stay on the vessel.

A daily rate will be charged after two hours if refuelling is the sole purpose of berthing.

Fee-free refuelling time can also be combined with fee-free periods for cargo unloading.

Refer to the list of charges to berth or moor a vessel.


Book a berth, mooring or refuelling berth

You must pre-book to use a berth, mooring or refuelling berth at any of the Frances Bay facilities. 

How to book

You must get a licence and open a trading account before you can book a mooring or berth.

To get a licence and set up an account, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the trading account and licence form PDF (242.8 KB).

Step 2. Submit the form and any supporting documents by email to the small ships scheduler.

Step 3. Pay the fee. If you are an international company and need short-term use of the facilities, you must pay before you use them. Other vessel owners must use their billing account.

Read more about charges to berth or moor in Frances Bay.

Step 4. Contact the small ships scheduler to make your booking.

Insurance

All vessels wanting to berth at the various facilities must have current insurance. An insurance certificate must be shown to the small ships scheduler before berthing.

Weekends and public holidays

Weekend bookings must be made by 4pm on Friday.

Public holiday bookings must be made by 4pm the day before. 

If the public holiday falls on a Monday, you must book by 4pm on the last working day before.


Book the lock or hardstand space

Wharf staff manage bookings for the Frances Bay lock and use of hardstand space. 

You can book the lock by calling 0401 117 062 between 06:30 and 15:30 on weekdays.

You can book hardstand space by contacting the wharf supervisor between 06:30 and 15:30 on weekdays. Call 0428 207 612 or email wharf.supervisor@nt.gov.au

The Frances Bay lock will be closed from January 10 to 17 in 2017. Read more about the temporary closure of Frances Bay lock in January 2017 PDF (127.0 KB).

After hours 

For lock bookings or emergencies between 15:30 and 06:30 on weekdays and at weekends, phone 0427 910 220.

You must pay a fee for any call outs between 18:30 and 06:30.

Refer to the list of charges to berth or moor a vessel.


Apply for a hot work permit

You must have a permit to perform hot work on vessels at the Frances Bay Mooring Basin or on the Hornibrooks careening poles in Frances Bay.

Hot work is any work that produces heat, sparks or increases fire or explosion risk. 

This may include:

  • grinding
  • welding
  • thermal or oxygen cutting 
  • heating.

How to apply

Follow these steps to apply for a hot work permit:

Step 1. Read the hot work policy and fill in the application form. 

Step 2. Email your application to both the small ships scheduler and wharf supervisor at least 24 hours before you want to start work. Email your form to:


Contact the small ships scheduler

The small ships scheduler manages berthing and vessel facilities in Frances Bay and Sadgroves Creek in Darwin. 

You can contact the small ships scheduler on weekdays between 8am and 4.30pm on (08) 8922 0617 or at smallships.scheduler@nt.gov.au.


Charges to berth or moor a vessel in Frances Bay, Darwin

You must pay to use the berthing and mooring facilities in Frances Bay under the control of the Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment. 

All charges include GST.

Berthing at Fishermans and Raptis wharves and Hornibrooks Pontoon

A one day minimum charge applies at all Frances Bay wharves and pontoons except for the following exemptions. 

Unloading fishing cargo is free for the first eight hours if booked in advance with the small ships scheduler. The daily rate will be charged after eight hours. 

Cargo operations on other commercial vessels are free for the first three hours. The daily rate will be charged after three hours.

Refuelling at Fishermans Wharf is free for the first two hours as long as crew stay on board the vessel. A daily rate will be charged after two hours if refuelling is the sole purpose of berthing.

Where vessels are also loading or unloading cargo or fish, the two-hour refuelling fee exemption is added to the other cargo operations exemptions.

A day equals a 24-hour period.

ItemUnitDaily fee
Fishing and commercial vesselsLOA$1.43
Non-booked fishing and commercial vesselsLOA$4.31

Berths at Frances Bay Mooring Basin

The following charges apply to berths in the Frances Bay Mooring Basin marina.

Pen rental for fishing and commercial vessels

ItemUnitFee
20m mooring basin pen - long termPer day$16.95
25m mooring basin pen - long termPer day$21.69
30m mooring basin pen - long termPer day$25.76
20m mooring basin pen - casualPer day$37.41
25m mooring basin pen - casualPer day$47.60
30m mooring basin pen - casualPer day$56.70

Pen rental for pleasure craft and use of service wharf by non-resident vessels

ItemFee
Daily rate$172.22

 After-hours lock movement

ItemFee
Prior booking$332.60
No prior booking$515.60

Electricity and water

Electricity and water are charged at the rate set by Power and Water and Jacana Energy

ItemUnitFee
Electricity connectionPer connection$38.93
Electricity adaptorPer day$33.23
Electricity usePer kilowatt$0.31
Water connectionPer connection$58.37
Water usePer kilolitre$2.02

Hornibrooks careening poles and Sadgroves Creek moorings

ItemUnitFee
Mooring at Sadgroves CreekPer day$3.42
Use of Hornibrooks careening polesPer day$15.86

Storage fees

Hardstand vessel storage is available at Hornibrooks and Frances Bay Mooring Basin.

The first four days of storage are free of charge for cargo clearance. All storage fees are per square metre.

ItemUnitFee
1 year or morePer day$0.32
3 months or more at Hornibrooks or the mooring basinPer day$0.41
CasualPer day$1.70
Mooring basin hardstandPer day$1.93
Hornibrooks hardstandPer day$1.93

Equipment hire

ItemUnitFee
Forklift and operatorPer hour$212.08
Forklift onlyPer hour$128.53
Administration fee for using external providersN/A17%

Oil spill clean up charges

The charge for cleaning up oil spills is the full cost of recovery plus an administration fee. 

Northern Territory Government equipment is charged at the full hire rate.


Dangerous goods information

Before seeking berthing at Fisherman's or Raptis Wharves you need to notify Darwin Port if you are transporting dangerous goods in Darwin Port.

For information about dangerous goods cargo and transportation in the Darwin Port boundary read the Dangerous Goods and Cargoes Policy: Frances Bay Mooring Basin PDF (267.7 KB).