21 October 2026
Who does this notice affect?
All vessel owners, operators, masters, and shipping agents who represent international, commercial vessel operators preparing for arrival into Australian territory.
What has changed?
The authorised Australian territory seaports, where biosecurity officers can conduct ship sanitation inspections, have changed.
The following four ports have been removed from the list of authorised ports. Ship sanitation certificates can no longer be issued from these four ports:
| Ports REMOVED from the ship sanitation scheme |
|---|
| Item | Ports | State or Territory |
|---|
| 1 | Melville Bay
Milner Bay | Northern Territory |
| 2 | Port Kennedy
Weipa | Queensland |
Ports at which vessels may be inspected for the purposes of the ship sanitation certification scheme
Australian territory declared ship sanitation points (ports) are published on the Federal Register of Legislation published Instrument: Biosecurity (Ship Sanitation Certification Scheme—Ports) Declaration 2026 (Declaration).
The list of authorised ports at which vessels may be inspected for the purposes of the ship sanitation scheme are below.
| Item | Ports | State or Territory |
|---|
| 1 | Newcastle
Port Botany
Port Kembla
Sydney | New South Wales |
| 2 | Geelong
Melbourne
Portland
Westernport | Victoria |
| 3 | Bowen
Brisbane
Bundaberg
Cairns
Gladstone
Gold Coast Broadwater
Hay Point
Mackay
Port Alma
Townsville | Queensland |
| 4 | Albany
Broome
Bunbury
Dampier
Esperance
Fremantle
Geraldton
Port Hedland
Port Walcott
Wyndham | Western Australia |
| 5 | Port Adelaide
Port Lincoln | South Australia |
| 6 | Burnie
Devonport
Hobart
Launceston | Tasmania |
| 7 | Darwin | Northern Territory |
| 8 | Christmas Island | Christmas Island |
How to apply for renewal of a ship sanitation certificate or extension
The Australian renewal of a ship sanitation control exemption certificate may be requested by the master or nominated shipping agent of a commercial vessel using the department's online web portal, Maritime and Aircraft Reporting System (MARS).
- Submit a Pre-Arrival Report (PAR) and report a ship sanitation inspection is required.
or
- Submit a Ship Sanitation Certificate Service Request at any time.
Legislative obligations
The department administers Ship Sanitation Certification (SSC) requirements on behalf of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
Ship sanitation inspections and issuing of subsequent certificates can only be issued at Australian declared ports. This declaration is made by the Director of Human Biosecurity or their delegate.
Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificates and Ship Sanitation Control Certificates are issued in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR). An update is underway to amend the IHR List of authorised ship sanitation ports.
Further information
For further advice on this notice or maritime arrival queries, contact the department's National Maritime Centre (NMC) by email maritimenc@aff.gov.au or phone: 1300 004 605 (in Australia) or +61 8 8201 6185 (outside Australia).
View the Vessel's webpages?for information on Australia's biosecurity reporting obligations and responsibilities which includes First Points of Entry and Ship sanitation pages.