Crossing the Westport bar

The bar is generally sounded after significant weather events or as required. The most recent bar information will also be published on this page, be published as a safety notice, posted on the noticeboard at Talley’s or can be emailed to you.

Please note the date of each sounding. As conditions may change daily, particularly the bar, lagoon entrance and river berths, there is no certainty that the depths shown remain current. Sounding accuracy can vary plus or minus 0.1 metres and Council does not give any warranty as to the accuracy of these soundings.

Latest bar sounding 21 October 2024

Port entry and departure

Port entry or departure should not be made when waves are breaking on the bar or entrance. Please obtain detailed weather and bar sounding information before crossing.  

• Prior to approaching the bar an "ALL SHIPS CALL" must be made.
• Only one vessel at a time can cross the bar.
• When leaving the lagoon an "ALL SHIPS CALL" must be made.

For more information on communication, read about how to radio in.

Bar conditions

Bar conditions are a function of:

• The run in the river
• The set (cross-current) at the entrance
• Swell size and direction
• Wind and sea conditions
• Available depth of water (determined by tidal height and position of sandbanks)

Any one, or a combination of the above could make crossing the Bar dangerous. If in doubt, stay out!

The run in the river peaks 12-18 hours after heavy rain in the mountains and can reach 8-10 knots even though the river may not appear to be in flood. The danger is not being able to make headway against the run, especially at the entrance. Very steep and short (close together) breaking waves can develop as the run holds up the incoming swells.

With heavy north-westerly swells or strong south-west/west winds, the current across the Bar entrance can reach 5 knots, with the danger of being pushed into breaking shallows to the east very quickly. Counteracting a strong set may mean presenting your beam to the swell with subsequent danger of broaching. Generally, we describe the set as easterly or westerly, slight, moderate, strong or very strong. If it is very strong (4 to 6 knots), crossing is ill-advised.

Sometimes you can have different sets, e.g. a westerly set at 5 cables and then an easterly set close in, check out the Easterly Set Diagram.

Westport Harbour entrance faces north. Generally, a north-westerly swell will affect the Bar the most, although a heavy south-westerly swell is quite capable of refracting around Cape Foulwind and breaking on the Bar.

Swells of 4 metres are not uncommon. Sometimes a long, low swell, barely noticeable off the coast, can produce a nasty breaking wave at the outer shoals. Always watch out behind you as you cross, a crew member can look out and warn of a building swell.

The available depth of water is important. Set and breaking swells are considerably reduced at the top of the tide, it is especially noticeable as the tide reaches 3 metres above chart datum on the day. It can be worthwhile waiting for that situation.

If your draft is 3.0 metres or more, you require a pilot (see Maritime Rule 90, Pilotage). Advice from the Harbour Master on Bar conditions, depth of water and the recommended route across the Bar, is available by calling phone (03) 788 8086 (24hrs).

It is mandatory for all vessels to change to Channel 14 VHF at 1 mile from the breakwater entrance until berthed or vice versa.

Definitions of leading lines, which are used to describe safe routes:

• Beacon Line: Rear Lead (large square frame with orange boards and orange diamond top mark.) By day in line with Front Lead, yellow pole with X top mark. At nighttime two fixed green neon's in line one with the other
• East Limit: By day a line with the first black and white pole (to the east of the front lead) in line with the rear lead. At nighttime this pole has a red fluorescent lamp, which is to be in line with the rear lead green neon
• Broad East: By day a line with the second black and white pole in line with the rear lead. At night the blue fluorescent lamp is to be in line with the rear lead green neon.
• First East: By day only a line with inside of the east breakwater head to the rear lead.
• West Limit and Broad West Limit are daytime leads only.

Advice on these leads can be obtained by contacting the Harbour Master. 

Disclaimer: While the Buller District Council has exercised all reasonable care and skill in carrying out and analysing soundings, it accepts no liability in contract, tort or otherwise howsoever, for any loss, damage, injury or expense (whether direct, indirect or consequential) arising out of the provision of this information to any person or organisations.