Product Overview

Summary: This Port Operations Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, end-to-end framework for running safe, efficient and compliant port activities in Australia. It integrates vessel movements, cargo handling, landside logistics and WHS controls into one practical document, helping you manage high‑risk operations while maintaining throughput and regulatory compliance.

Port environments combine high-traffic marine operations, heavy plant, hazardous cargoes and complex contractor interfaces, making them some of the most risk-intensive workplaces in Australia. This Port Operations Safe Operating Procedure sets out a structured, step-by-step approach to planning, executing and reviewing daily port activities, from vessel arrival and berth allocation through to cargo discharge, storage, loading and departure. It embeds WHS risk management into each operational stage, ensuring that safety is not an afterthought but a core part of how work is planned and carried out.

Developed for Australian port and terminal operators, this SOP helps you translate legislative duties and industry best practice into clear, practical instructions that frontline teams can follow. It tackles common problem areas such as interface management between ship and shore, traffic and pedestrian segregation, safe use of cranes and mobile plant, fatigue management for shift workers, and emergency response coordination with external agencies. By standardising your port operations, you reduce incidents, improve vessel turnaround, strengthen contractor control and create a defensible, auditable system of work that supports your due diligence under WHS law.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, safe and efficient port operations across shifts, terminals and contractors.
• Reduce the likelihood of serious incidents involving mobile plant, lifting operations, vessel movements and hazardous cargoes.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS legislation, marine safety requirements and relevant codes of practice.
• Streamline communication and coordination between port control, marine pilots, stevedores, transport operators and emergency services.
• Improve operational reliability, vessel turnaround times and stakeholder confidence through clear, repeatable processes.

Who is this for?

• Port Operations Managers
• Harbour Masters
• Terminal Managers
• Stevedore Supervisors
• WHS Managers
• Marine Operations Coordinators
• Logistics and Supply Chain Managers
• Shift Supervisors (Wharf and Yard)
• Port Safety Officers
• Contractor and Vendor Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Collisions between vessels, wharf structures and port craft during berthing and unberthing
• Struck-by incidents involving cranes, forklifts, reach stackers and heavy vehicles on the wharf and in yards
• Falls from height when accessing vessels, gangways, ladders and elevated work areas
• Crush and pinch injuries during mooring, cargo lashing and lifting operations
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals, fuels and dangerous goods (including spills and leaks)
• Slips, trips and falls on wet, uneven or congested wharf and yard surfaces
• Fatigue-related errors among shift workers, pilots, tug crews and equipment operators
• Noise and vibration exposure from ship engines, cargo handling equipment and vehicles
• Confined space risks in ship holds, tanks, silos and enclosed port infrastructure
• Traffic management risks involving heavy vehicles, light vehicles and pedestrians within the port precinct
• Manual handling injuries from handling lashings, dunnage, hoses and smaller cargo units
• Fire, explosion and ignition risks associated with flammable cargoes and bunkering operations

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose, Scope and Application
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Lines of Authority
• 4.0 Regulatory and Standards Framework
• 5.0 Port Risk Management and Planning Requirements
• 6.0 Vessel Arrival, Berthing and Departure Procedures
• 7.0 Ship–Shore Interface Management
• 8.0 Cargo Handling Operations (Bulk, Break Bulk, Containerised and Project Cargo)
• 9.0 Traffic Management in Wharf, Yard and Landside Areas
• 10.0 Use of Cranes, Lifting Appliances and Mobile Plant
• 11.0 Mooring Operations and Line Handling Safety
• 12.0 Dangerous Goods and Hazardous Cargo Management
• 13.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
• 14.0 Fatigue Management and Shift Work Controls
• 15.0 Contractor and Third-Party Operator Management
• 16.0 Communication Protocols and Permit-to-Work Systems
• 17.0 Environmental Protection and Spill Response Interface
• 18.0 Emergency Preparedness, Response and Evacuation Procedures
• 19.0 Incident Reporting, Investigation and Corrective Actions
• 20.0 Training, Competency and Induction Requirements
• 21.0 Monitoring, Audit and Continuous Improvement
• 22.0 Document Control, Review and Recordkeeping

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Traffic Management in Workplaces
• AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems
• Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012 and Marine Orders (where applicable)
• AS 3846: The handling and transport of dangerous cargoes in port areas
• National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) – relevant parts
• Port Authority and Harbour Master Directions applicable to local jurisdiction