21/02/2023
Who does this notice affect?
All vessel owners, operators, masters, and shipping agents who represent international commercial vessels including cruise vessels, preparing for arrival in Australian territory, or reporting a voyage change.
What has changed?
The Maritime and Aircraft Reporting System (MARS) offline forms for commercial vessels have all been revised.
- The forms have the department’s updated name and logo after the department had a name change and became the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) in 2022.
- The privacy statements when submitting information have been revised in MARS as well as in the offline forms
- The department name and address on the Biosecurity Status Document (BSD) template, both the header and footer have been revised.
- Ballast water report questions have been amended. Refer to the separate ‘Revised MARS ballast water reporting: import industry notice’.
In addition the offline forms have had their data fields updated to match information already in MARS:
- Pre-arrival Report (PAR)
- Port list
- Shipping agency list
- Non-First Point of Entry (NFP) Application
- Port list
- Shipping agency list
- Ballast Water Report
- Shipping agency list
- Treatment systems
- Human Health Update
- Shipping agency list
- Domestic Risk Assessment Application
- Port list
- Shipping agency list.
What do you need to do?
Continue to complete vessel reporting directly into the MARS portal as usual. The changes will be automatic and there is nothing more you need to do other than answer each of the questions.
As an alternative to direct MARS access, offline forms can be used by vessel masters or officers where there is limited or unreliable internet connectivity to meet pre-arrival reporting obligations. The MARS offline forms will be available on the MARS offline forms webpage, for use from 24 February 2023.
Vessel masters and shipping agents should make sure to download the revised offline forms to avoid errors and delays when submitting information from the offline forms into MARS.
Where can you find the forms?
The updated offline forms are available on the department’s webpage: MARS offline forms
Vessel reporting requirements and the Biosecurity Act 2015
Vessel masters and shipping agents are reminded:
- to read and understand the Biosecurity Status Document (BSD) directions and conditions and keep a copy of the current document on board the vessel for the duration of the voyage in Australia.
- that any changes in circumstances during the voyage in Australian waters, particularly changes to the human health of travellers, must be submitted via MARS or reported to the National Maritime Centre (NMC) as soon as practicable.
- that a failure to report accurately or comply with a requirement under the Biosecurity Act may result in penalties, including infringement notices, civil penalties, or criminal prosecutions.
Further information
Contact the department’s National Maritime Centre (NMC) by email or phone: 1300 004 605 (in Australia) or +61 8 8201 6185 (outside Australia).
For the latest information on ballast water management, view the Ballast water webpage.
View the Vessels webpages for information on Australia’s biosecurity reporting obligations and responsibilities.
Industry Advice Notice 80-2022 Australian biofouling management requirements and Managing biofouling in Australia webpage.