3 December 2019
Who does this notice affect?
Stakeholders associated with the biosecurity inspection of sea freight containers imported into Australia - including Biosecurity Industry Participants, wharf and terminal operators, Stevedores, and Engineers and structural inspectors who undertake certification and inspection of sea container inspection stands.
What has changed?
The department published an Industry Advice Notice on 4 September 2019 (146-2019 - Update to the specifications for construction, certification and use of sea freight container inspection stands) advising that in consultation with professional bodies, the specifications for construction, certification and use of sea freight container inspection stands had been reviewed. The review outcomes included new requirements for qualified engineers and structural inspectors responsible for the previous or future certification of sea container inspection stands.
Qualified engineers or structural inspectors are now required to have their qualifications and relevant experience assessed by Engineers Australia. Evidence of the completed assessment was required to be submitted to the department by 29 November 2019, as after this date any inspection stand certified by an engineer that had not completed the assessment, would no longer be accepted for use by the department.
The department is aware that there is high number of previous certifying engineers that are yet to meet the new assessment requirement prior to the 29 November 2019 deadline. Accordingly, to allow additional time for assessment and to help manage any potential delays for industry caused by removing existing affected inspection stands from use, the period for certifying engineers to be assessed has been extended to 31 January 2020.
Any new inspection stand or stand that is still pending assessment, will continue not to be accepted for use by the department unless the certifying engineer has had their assessment completed and documentation provided to the department.
All scheduled certification and structural inspections for stands currently in use must be performed by an engineer or structural inspector that has also been assessed by Engineers Australia as holding the appropriate qualifications and experience.
Further information
For further information regarding the requirements for container inspection stands email: seafreightstands@aff.gov.au
Engineers Australia can also be contacted regarding the assessment process and a list of assessed engineers email: seafreight@engineersaustralia.org.au