MARS News
A quick reference guide to Understanding the MARS Biosecurity Status Document (BSD) is now available: Quick Reference Guide: Understanding the BSD.
Using the MARS Offline form for itinerary updates
The MARS itinerary update form is for agents and masters to advise the department of changes to a vessel’s itinerary for a voyage.
- Use this form for changes after a Pre-Arrival Report (PAR) has already been submitted, for changes to a vessel’s subsequent port itinerary.
- Masters and agents to complete the form and email it to the National Maritime Centre (NMC) to action.
Getting help for vessel arrivals into Australia
Contact us for help, 7 days a week.
MARS download tools
The following documents are available for download to support vessel operators and shipping agents with reporting and inspection requirements.
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.
Building on Australia’s biosecurity checklist for commercial vessels (above), the VCS products (below) provide guidance on compliance with Australia’s biosecurity obligations, and the consequences of non-compliance.
The VCS was designed to improve the transparency of biosecurity risks that biosecurity officers look for during vessel inspections. Compliant vessels that meet the VCS criteria have reduced intervention and associated cost benefits.
VCS is available to the following main vessel types:
- Bulk carriers, cargo and container vessels
- Tankers
- Military and Customs vessels
- Tugs, dredges and barges.
VCS is not available to the following vessel types:
- Cruise vessels
- Roll on Roll off vessels (ROROs)
- Livestock vessels
- Non-commercial vessels and superyachts.
| Document | Pages | File size |
|---|---|---|
| VCS (brochure) PDF | 2 | 279 KB |
| VCS (poster) PDF | 1 | 204 KB |
Quick Reference Guides are available to assist you with understanding the Biosecurity Status Document (BSD), How to complete the PAR, and How to complete the BWR.
QRGs can be used in conjunction with the detailed MARS User Guide.
| Document | Pages | File size |
|---|---|---|
| MARS User Guide accessibility DOCX | 104 | 6 MB |