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Cruise Industry Biosecurity Bulletin
Edition 2, 2024
| | | | | | | Welcome to the Cruise Industry Biosecurity Bulletin.
The aim of this bulletin is to provide essential updates and reminders on cruise line biosecurity requirements.
To receive the latest biosecurity updates, make sure you and your colleagues are signed up to this bulletin.
The department will also host annual engagement sessions, with invites sent to the current department contact list. If your company's contact details require updating, please email Travellers@aff.gov.au. | | | Traveller and Mail System rollout | | | | Biosecurity officers are now using a Traveller and Mail System (TAMS) smartphone app on department issued mobile devices to scan the passports of travellers passing through biosecurity intervention points at First Point of Entry cruise terminals.
TAMS is a key component of the department's Traveller and Mail Modernisation Reform Program, which aims to provide a seamless traveller experience. TAMS will also be the interface biosecurity officers will use to view and access any future digital declarations.
There should be no direct impact on cruise lines or port authorities. However, to expedite traveller clearance, all travellers must have their passports readily available when requested by a biosecurity officer. | | 
| | Mandatory passenger announcement | | | | Each operator of an international vessel arriving in Australian territory must ensure that every person, including crew members, is given information about Australian biosecurity requirements as an audio, or audio-visual, announcement.
Operators may be liable to a civil penalty where they fail to ensure that each person on board each vessel, is given approved information about biosecurity requirements under Commonwealth law. | | | External territory pre-arrival reporting | | | | If you are travelling to and from, or between the Australian Mainland and Australian External Territories of: - Christmas Island
- Cocos (Keeling) Island
- Norfolk Island
or between these External Territories, you must lodge a pre-arrival report (PAR) using the Maritime and Aircraft Reporting System (MARS). | | | Maritime recycling risk assessment trial success | | | | During the March-June 2024 cruise season, the department, in collaboration with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), and with extensive internal and external stakeholder engagement with maritime and waste operators, conducted a maritime waste recycling project called the Maritime Recycling Risk Assessment Trial (MRRAT).
The successful conclusion of the MRRAT over these four months, resulted in the following pallet loads of waste being released from biosecurity control for recycling instead of disposal as biosecurity waste: - 187 crushed glass
- 25 clean cardboard
- 24 crushed tin
- 65 soft plastics
- 60 hard plastics
- 52 crushed aluminium cans.
The department is currently considering its next steps in maritime recycling. An Import Industry Advice Notice will be published soon on the department's website. | | | | 
| | Brisbane maritime biosecurity officer Bernard inspecting crushed aluminium cans for recycling onboard a cruise vessel. | | Coming soon: removal of COVID-19 human health pre-arrival report questions | | | | Minor changes are being made to the vessel human health pre-arrival report (PAR) in response to Australia's Chief Medical Officer determining (in October 2023) that COVID-19 is no longer a communicable disease incident of national significance: - Removal of PAR human health question 1c (diagnosed COVID-19 cases) and question 1d (vaccinated persons).
An Import Industry Advice Notice will be issued when the changes are complete. This is expected by October 2024.
The requirement to report death and illness on board will remain unchanged. Vessel masters and shipping agents must continue to submit a PAR human health and human health update. | | 
| | Share your thoughts: feedback and questions welcome | | | | We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. | | | | | |