You will require this certificate if you are the master of a vessel and you intend to pilot your own vessel in a pilotage port. This certificate is issued to the master of an identified class or classes of vessels for a specific pilotage area.
Pilotage is ordinarily compulsory in every pilotage port, meaning that a master of a vessel cannot enter, leave or move within a pilotage port with a vessel before taking on board the marine pilot made available by the pilotage service provider for that port. This certificate exempts your vessel from compulsory pilotage in respect of the relevant port.
A pilotage port means any of the following ports:
- Sydney Harbour
- Botany Bay
- Newcastle
- Port Kembla
- Yamba
- Eden.
Please note that Certificate of Local Knowledge is not available if you have the following classes of vessels:
- A vessel the length of which exceeds 80 metres unless approved by the Minister or the relevant port authority.
- A vessel that is nuclear-powered.
- A vessel carrying dangerous or hazardous goods in bulk, unless approved by the Minister or the relevant port authority.
- A vessel or class of vessels that poses a threat to the safety of life or port property.
