20 November 2024
Who does this notice affect?
All vessel owners, operators, masters and shipping agents who represent international vessels including cruise vessels in, or arriving in, Australian territory.
What has changed?
Changes have been made to the vessel human health pre-arrival report (PAR) to reflect Australia's Chief Medical Officer determining (in October 2023) that COVID-19 is no longer a communicable disease incident of national significance.
The following human health questions have been removed from the PAR:
- Has anyone on board been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 60 days, including prior to boarding?
- How many persons on board are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 with an Australian-approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine?
The following additional human health questions have been removed:
- Have any people been tested for COVID-19 during this voyage?
- How many people have been tested for COVID-19 during this voyage?
- What test type was used?
- How many people have been tested positive for COVID-19 during this voyage?
- How many people have been tested negative for COVID-19 during this voyage?
The following COVID-19 Individual ill traveller information is no longer required:
- Has been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 with an Australian-approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine?
What do you need to do?
The requirement to report death and illness on board remains unchanged. Vessel masters and shipping agents must continue to submit a PAR to report passengers who have died, passengers who have been unwell with a new illness in the past 21 days, any unwell passengers with a temperature or new coughing illness and a human health update if there has been a change in the health status of crew and passengers.
Further information
Contact the department's National Maritime Centre (NMC) by email maritimenc@aff.gov.au
Information and MARS supporting materials can be found on the department's website under Vessels.