The result of more than 18 months of industry consultation, the vessel arrival system will even improve the environment, state Ports Minister Paul McLeay said.

“The implementation of VAS will improve safety in the port, reduce the number of vessels at anchor during fair weather and offers the opportunity for ships to reduce their carbon emissions by altering the speed at which they travel to Newcastle,” he said.

He added that the system was designed to limit the number of vessels at anchor while waiting to enter the port, “without detriment to throughput”

Newcastle MP Jodi McKay said the effect on queues at Newcastle might take some time to be seen.

“Over time the ship queues will be significantly reduced but they will not disappear altogether,” she said.

“The type of trade at Newcastle port means there will always be a small number of ships anchored off the coast. What the VAS should do is reduce the current queue.”

Launching the VAS marks the final phase of the project, which requires all vessels to comply with the system and includes restrictions on anchoring.

The first phase started compulsory tracking of coal vessels visiting the port and the second implemented a seven-day notified arrival time to allocate queue priority.

The VAS will be reviewed in September.

The system was developed as a result of the findings from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation into the Pasha Bulker grounding.