Australian Pilot facts for kids
The Australian Pilot is a special set of books that helps sailors navigate safely along the coast of Australia. Think of it like a detailed guide or map for ships, telling them about the waters, dangers, and safe paths.
Contents
What is the Australian Pilot?
The Australian Pilot is a series of books called Sailing Directions. These books give important information to people steering ships in Australian waters. They tell sailors about things like:
- The depth of the water
- Where rocks or sandbanks might be
- What the coast looks like
- Where to find lighthouses or buoys
- Safe places to anchor
Who Published These Guides?
Most of these important guides were published by the British Admiralty Hydrographic Office. This office is like a special government department in Britain that creates maps and guides for sailors.
How Were They Used?
Sailors had to use the Australian Pilot books along with other important tools. These included:
- Notices to Mariners: These were regular updates about changes in the sea, like new buoys or dangers.
- Nautical charts: These are detailed maps of the sea.
- Supplements: These were extra booklets with more information or updates.
The updates and extra information were given the same name as the main books.
When Did They Start?
The very first edition of the Australian Pilot came out in 1916. The ninth edition was published much later, in 2004. Over the years, the number of books in the series changed.
Australia's Own Guides
Australia started its own mapping service for the sea, called the Australian Hydrographic Service, in 1920. Even after this, the British continued to publish their maps and sailing guides for Australia. Today, Australia has its own up-to-date information for sailors, which can be found in the Marine information manual.
Other Guides for Sailors
Many states in Australia have also created their own safety maps and guides for their coastlines. These guides add to the work done by the British Admiralty. There are also similar guides from the United States that cover the same waters as the Australian Pilot. Before these big hydrographic services existed, local guides were made by collecting information from ship records.
