The Bureau coordinates a network of around 70 foreign and Australian ships making up the Australian Voluntary Observing Fleet. These ships provide meteorological observations such as air pressure, temperature, humidity, sea surface temperature, wind speed and direction, and visual observations such as wave heights. The data from these ships is crucial to help inform forecasters about current conditions, and to develop coastal and high seas forecasts, and for longer-range computer climate modelling.
Commercial vessels operating within Australian waters routinely perform remote barometer calibration checks when in port. This page now enables ship crew to calibrate their marine barometers in real time and at regular intervals. The table below provides a link to the closest Automatic Weather Station for key ports around Australia. These weather stations update their barometric observations every half hour.
| State | Port | Closest weather station | Distance from port | Link to check latest MSLP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW SOUTH WALES | Newcastle | Williamtown RAAF | 13 km | Check MSLP |
| Sydney Port Botany | Sydney Airport MO | 4 km | Check MSLP | |
| Port Kembla | Port Kembla | 1 km | Check MSLP | |
| NORTHERN TERRITORY | Darwin | Darwin Harbour | 0 km | Check MSLP |
| Gove | Gove Airport | 16 km | Check MSLP | |
| QUEENSLAND | Brisbane | Brisbane Airport | 2 km | Check MSLP |
| Cairns | Cairns Airport | 7 km | Check MSLP | |
| Gladstone | Gladstone | 11 km | Check MSLP | |
| Mackay | Mackay MO | 0 km | Check MSLP | |
| Townsville | Townsville Airport | 6 km | Check MSLP | |
| Weipa | Weipa Aero | 6 km | Check MSLP | |
| SOUTH AUSTRALIA | Adelaide | Parafield Airport | 11 km | Check MSLP |
| Ceduna | Thevenard NTC AWS | 0 km | Check MSLP | |
| Port Giles | Edithburgh | 10 km | Check MSLP | |
| Port Lincoln | Port Lincoln Airport | 8 km | Check MSLP | |
| Port Pirie | Port Pirie Airport | 8 km | Check MSLP | |
| Wallaroo | Kadina AWS | 6 km | Check MSLP | |
| Whyalla | Whyalla | 8 km | Check MSLP | |
| TASMANIA | Devonport | Devonport Airport | 5 km | Check MSLP |
| Hobart | Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 1 km | Check MSLP | |
| VICTORIA | Geelong | Geelong Racecourse | 8 km | Check MSLP |
| Melbourne | Melbourne Olympic Park | 7 km | Check MSLP | |
| Portland | Portland Harbour | 1 km | Check MSLP | |
| WESTERN AUSTRALIA | Albany | Albany Airport | 13 km | Check MSLP |
| Broome | Broome Port | 0 km | Check MSLP | |
| Bunbury | Bunbury | 5 km | Check MSLP | |
| Dampier Anchorage | Legendre Island | 35 km | Check MSLP | |
| Esperance | Esperance | 2 km | Check MSLP | |
| Fremantle (Perth) | Garden Island | 17 km | Check MSLP | |
| Fremantle (Perth) | Rottnest Island | 23 km | Check MSLP | |
| Geraldton | Geraldton Airport | 11 km | Check MSLP | |
| Karratha/Dampier | Karratha Aero | 10 km | Check MSLP | |
| Port Hedland | Port Hedland Airport | 8 km | Check MSLP |
The Bureau is always recruiting suitable ships into the Australian Voluntary Observing Fleet. If you want to register your ship, please contact marine_obs@bom.gov.au.
