Masters and Ship operators should provide detailed information regarding ship’s Biofouling Management prior to arriving in Australian territorial seas. This information should be reported through the department’s Maritime Arrivals Reporting System (MARS).

Masters and Ship Operators should reassure that ship’s pre-arrival report includes details of any biofouling inspection, cleaning of biofouling or treatment, biofouling practices in use, ship’s voyage history for at least one year.

During PSC inspection, ship should be in compliance with one of the following three accepted Biofouling Management practices:

-Implementation of an effective Biofouling Management Plan and associated Record Book or

-Cleaned all biofouling within 30 days prior to arriving in Australian territory or

-Implementation of an alternative biofouling management method pre-approved by the related department.

A ship that has not applied one of the three accepted biofouling management practices will be subject to further questions and assessment of the biosecurity risk associated with biofouling on the ship.

Source: www.awe.gov.au

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