Navigating the Barwon River Bar – Warning

Attention all vessel operators, please be reminded that navigating and crossing the Barwon River Bar is a high risk activity, potentially leading to severe personal injury or even loss of life. Please check weather, wind, swell and tide conditions in the days leading up to your trip and before you leave home.

• Make sure you understand navigational beacons, buoys, sector lights and leads before you even attempt the Barwon River Bar crossing.

• Strong winds can cause challenging conditions and distinguishing the river bar entrance can become very difficult.
• Large and even medium size swells can close off the river bar entrance with breaking surf.
• The run of the ebb tide lifts and shortens sea conditions on the river bar increasing the risk of swamping or capsize.
• Poor visibility in low light, fog and the position of the sun relative to the vessels position when attempting to cross the river bar must also be considered before and during river bar crossings.
• Make sure you understanding navigational beacons, buoys, sector lights and leads before you even attempt the Barwon River Bar crossing.
• Lifejackets are compulsory for all river bar crossings in Victoria.

Check the weather before you leave home, don’t go out if the weather is unsuitable.

Visit www.bom.gov.au to get information on tides, swell, wind, coastal weather and warnings.

A marine safety camera provides images of the Barwon Heads Main Jetty and Barwon River Bar entrance Beacon and updates every 10 minutes and can be checked on the Boating Victoria website.

Near real-time Barwon River tide conditions can be checked on the Barwon Coast website. This tide gauge is located on the Main Jetty in Barwon Heads and updates every 5 minutes.

• Take necessary precautions and exercise extreme caution when navigating the Barwon River Bar.
• Don’t head out regardless of the conditions just because you have planned the day in advance.
• Be flexible and change your plans if need be. The waters north of the Barwon Heads vehicle bridge provide safer waters as do the waters of Corio Bay and Port Phillip Bay.

“If in doubt, don’t go out’.