Marine Pests - Quarantine's on the watch for unwelcome guests

Making sure your vessel’s hull is free from biofouling before you come to Australia will help you protect our unique marine environment.

The best sailors recognise the value of regular hull maintenance: boats sail better and faster, resale values are maintained and hulls last longer when they're kept clean.

At least 250 introduced marine species are already established in Australian ports and waters -- and a staggering 70 per cent of these arrived as biofouling organisms on vessels' hulls.

The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) has developed a system to regulate biofouling on internationally plying vessels. After considerable consultation, that system will come into force on 1 October, when AQIS will begin inspecting the hulls of all vessels when they arrive at a first port of call in Australia. Vessels with visibly fouled hulls may be subjected to closer inspection and that may involve removing such vessels from the water.

Remember -- if you arrive with a clean hull, you won't face the costs of slipping your vessel. 

The new system will be phased in over 12 months. The first stage will consist of voluntary guidelines and data gathering. Initially, the new system will apply only to internationally plying vessels less than 25 m in length and foreign vessels (of any size) that are apprehended for illegal activities or rescued by Australian authorities inside territorial waters. 

If you're the operator of an internationally plying vessel less than 25 m in length and you intend to visit Australia, you need to learn about the new protocol. Full details about the protocol and how it will work may be found on the AQIS website: http://www.aqis.gov.au/yachts 

Note: the website also has high-resolution (publication quality) images of AQIS inspectors checking internationally plying vessels. They are available for use free of charge (please credit the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service)

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