Port Safety

Sydney Ports Corporation is committed to providing safe operations. The safety of our staff, the commercial shipping community, our port neighbours, the environment and visitors to our facilities are of paramount importance to us.

Sydney Ports has a long-standing relationship with all the stakeholder groups involved in the management of the supply chain through Sydney's ports. We brief stakeholders with an interest in the operation of port facilities and outline safety initiatives. Sydney Ports will continue to update our wider audiences of our safety and security measures.

Recreational users of Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay need to be particularly aware of the water-side restricted zones in place near the port facilities and around commercial ship movements. These zones are in place to ensure that a safe distance is maintained from commercial shipping operations.

Port Safety Operating Licence (PSOL)

Sydney Ports is charged with fulfilling stringent conditions linking the safety of shipping with the preservation of the marine environment through the execution of its Port Safety Operating Licence (PSOL).

In addition to maintaining safe navigation in the ports for commercial shipping and administering the Dangerous Goods Regulations for Port Areas, Sydney Ports also has responsibility for emergency response to marine-based incidents and for the clean-up of any environmental spills.

In response to oil spills, Sydney Ports has responsibility for Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay and for 90km of the NSW coastline for three nautical miles out to sea.  Sydney Ports is also a major contributor to the state and national oil spill response arrangements.

In fulfilling its duties, Sydney Ports works to ensure safe ports for all to enjoy.

For more detailed commercial shipping information on using the ports of Sydney, please refer to the Port Procedures Guide, the complete guide to using the ports of Sydney. Additional safety information can be found in the Publications section of this site.

Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S)

At Sydney Ports we are committed to the safety of all those who visit or work at the facilities we manage; including our staff, contractors, the community and any other visitors to the ports.

As part of our commitment to employee and stakeholder safety, we undertake site specific, employee and contractor inductions. These inductions promote the safety requirements of Sydney Ports and the inductees, while also providing an overview of the risk and hazards associated with particular tasks or sites.

Sydney Ports has a detailed OH&S program of activities aimed at ensuring compliance with OH&S legislation. The focus of the program is to facilitate a positive safety culture and achieve our corporate safety goal for a safe work place.

For more information on OH&S please contact the Manager, Risk and Safety on +61 2 9296 4999 or email safety.enquiries@sydneyports.com.au.

Dangerous and Hazardous Goods

Sydney Ports has the responsibility under legislation to control the conditions under which dangerous and hazardous goods are handled or kept in defined port operational areas.

We must be advised of all dangerous goods to be imported or exported by vessel, including transhipments and/or goods transiting the ports.

For more information on dangerous and hazardous goods, current legislation, and the method of notification, visit the dangerous and hazardous goods page on this site. Alternatively contact the Risk and Dangerous Goods Manager on +61 2 9296 4999.