Fremantle and Rottnest: boating safety
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Fremantle, at the mouth of the Swan River in Perth, is Western Australia's main yachting base, with marinas at Fremantle, Port Coogee and along Cockburn Sound. Rottnest Island, about 10 nautical miles offshore, is the usual day and weekend destination, with moorings and anchorages in its northern bays.
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Harbour and marinas
Fremantle Port runs 24 hours a day with more than 3,500 ship movements a year in the Inner Harbour, the approach channels and Cockburn Sound. Keep 50 metres clear of all ships, berthed or moving, keep to the 8-knot limit in the Inner Harbour and stay to the right of the main channel; do not anchor in shipping channels.
Fremantle Ports (archived copy, March 2025) · Fremantle Ports (archived copy, March 2025) ▾
Port Coogee Marina (City of Cockburn) has an office line staffed at all hours; the local volunteer rescue group, Marine Rescue Cockburn, works on VHF channels 16 and 73.
City of Cockburn – Port Coogee Marina ▾
Weather
WA Water Police broadcast local weather and navigation warnings on VHF channel 16/67 at 07:18 and 19:18 WST (severe-weather warnings every 2 hours when issued), covering Perth waters within 20 nautical miles of shore.
Department of Transport WA – Marine radios · Department of Transport WA – Marine radios ▾
Local rules
Anywhere in WA, motor boats must not exceed 8 knots in or through a mooring area, within 15 m of a vessel under way, or within 50 m of a moored vessel, a person in the water or a jetty. Around Rottnest, the official boating map also marks 5-knot zones and marine sanctuary zones.
Department of Transport WA – Boating Rottnest guide · Department of Transport WA – Boating Rottnest guide ▾
A VHF or HF marine radio is required on registrable vessels more than 4 nautical miles from shore in unprotected waters, which includes the crossing to Rottnest. You may not anchor or moor in any channel or fairway unless in distress.
Department of Transport WA – Boating Rottnest guide · Department of Transport WA – Boating Rottnest guide ▾
Hazards
Reefs around Rottnest break in swell: the official map warns that in a moderate swell seas may break over depths of about 6 m, and marks breaking-swell areas around the island.
Department of Transport WA – Boating Rottnest guide ▾
Hospital and medical
Fiona Stanley Hospital (Murdoch, near Fremantle) runs WA's state diving and hyperbaric medicine service, with a 24-hour on-call service for diving injuries such as decompression sickness.
Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group (WA Health) · Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group (WA Health) ▾
Frequently asked
Who do I call in an emergency at sea near Fremantle and Rottnest?
Call 000 and ask for Police. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16, or a DSC distress alert on channel 70.
How do I contact the harbour in Fremantle and Rottnest?
Fremantle Port runs 24 hours a day with more than 3,500 ship movements a year in the Inner Harbour, the approach channels and Cockburn Sound. Keep 50 metres clear of all ships, berthed or moving, keep to the 8-knot limit in the Inner Harbour and stay to the right of the main channel; do not anchor in shipping channels.
Where do I get the marine forecast for Fremantle and Rottnest?
WA Water Police broadcast local weather and navigation warnings on VHF channel 16/67 at 07:18 and 19:18 WST (severe-weather warnings every 2 hours when issued), covering Perth waters within 20 nautical miles of shore.
Read before you sail
Nearby destinations
Local rules change. Spotted something out of date? support@vesselsos.com