The Mariner's Handbook for Australian Waters (AHP20) provides mariners with important regulatory, procedural and environmental information affecting the planning and conduct of a voyage to, or from, Australian ports, or within Australian waters. It includes a summary of all relevant information from various Australian government agencies under the cover of one combined reference, with links to further information if required.
The publication includes:
- Australian maritime legislation, regulations and responsible agencies
- Marine Protected Areas and coastal pilotage
- Shipping routes through the Torres Strait and Great Barrier Reef
- Maritime safety information, warnings, weather broadcasts, search and rescue
- Ship reporting systems, including AUSREP and REEFVTS
- Maritime security, customs, biosecurity and immigration requirements
- Australian port entry, departure, pilotage and contact information
- Navigational chart accuracy, Zones of Confidence (ZOC) and Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) over-scaling
- Regional climatic conditions
- Government agency contacts and further information
Updates to the Mariner's Handbook for Australian Waters will be published via Australian Notices to Mariners. Instructions on how to update printed copies are included in the Chart and Publication Maintenance Handbook.
- 2026: No notices issued
- 2025: No notices issued
- 2024: 799
- 2023: 176, 219
- 2022: No notices issued
- 2021: 41, 726, 1012
- 2020: 4, 187, 587, 941, 1020
Official Nautical Publication
The Mariner's Handbook for Australian Waters (AHP20) 5th Edition is an official nautical publication issued by the Australian Hydrographic Office (AHO), Australia’s national charting authority. The PDF complies with Australian carriage requirements.
For carriage requirements applying to SOLAS and NSCV regulated vessels, refer to the relevant Marine Orders and Marine Notices on the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) website.
For more information or to provide feedback, email AHO Communications.