Humane sea transport of animals
National Consultative Committee on Animal Welfare (NCCAW) Position Statement
Marine Transport Law
The conditions under which livestock may be transported interstate in Australia or overseas are governed by Marine Orders, Part 43 (Cargo and Cargo Handling - Livestock).
These orders are made pursuant to the Navigation (Orders) Regulations under the Commonwealth Navigation Act 1912.
The intrastate transport of animals by sea is governed by state law based on the Commonwealth Marine Orders 
PDF [306kb].
The Marine Orders provide for the safe management of the ship, and this is achieved, in part, by adequate containment and control of livestock on board.
Accordingly, the Orders take into account a range of animal welfare aspects, including:
- basic welfare considerations such as the fitness of animals for travel, and
- the maintenance of health during travel.
The Orders cover:
- fittings and equipment
- loading densities
- ventilation and
- feed and water.
Special provisions apply to short voyages not exceeding 24 hours.
The Marine Orders Part 43 should be regularly reviewed and amended, acting on the advice of the Livestock Advisory Committee to the Minister for Transport and Communications.
The Australian Agricultural Council Code of Practice for the Transport of Livestock by Sea should be incorporated under relevant Commonwealth legislation.
Transport Conditions
All the provisions for the humane road transport of livestock must be applied when animals are transported to the dockside, or to and from an assembly area to the dockside.
All animals presented for transport by sea must be examined on the dock and certified by an experienced authorised officer before embarkation.
Only workers who have animal handling training should transfer animals from road transporters to a vessel.
Once the unloading of animals from a road transporter has begun at the dockside there must be no interruption to the embarkation process until all the animals are safely secured on board the vessel.
This Position Statement was first published in November 1991 and was reviewed by NCCAW on 20 February 2008. NCCAW made the decision to retain it without amendment.
