Managing the Safe Operations of Shipping in the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait

The environmental and cultural significance of the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait Region are recognised nationally and internationally. The protection of the outstanding natural qualities of the region was enhanced with the establishment of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in 1975. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1981, and was designated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) as one of the world's first Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas in 1990. REEFREP was established in 1997 to enhance navigational safety in the Torres Strait and the inner route of the Great Barrier Reef, thereby minimising the risk of marine accidents and consequential pollution and damage to the marine environment. Facilitating improved safety and environmental protection along almost 2,500km of coastline (Figure 1), including areas that are extremely remote, is a significant task.