Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Drought, disaster and rural support
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Levies and charges on agricultural products
    • Mouse infestation advice
    • Plant health
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    • Report a concern
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Plant Innovation Centre
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We enhance our agricultural industries and trade, and manage the threat of biosecurity risks to Australia.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Budget 2025-26

    Budget 2025-26

    The 2025–26 Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 25 March 2025.

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Import
  4. Industry advice notices
  5. 2023
  6. 39-2023

Sidebar first - Import

  • Industry advice notices
    • 2025
    • 2024
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021

39-2023: Maritime and Aircraft Reporting System (MARS) offline forms revised for commercial vessels to report arrival and voyage changes

21/02/2023

Who does this notice affect?

All vessel owners, operators, masters, and shipping agents who represent international commercial vessels including cruise vessels, preparing for arrival in Australian territory, or reporting a voyage change.

What has changed?

The Maritime and Aircraft Reporting System (MARS) offline forms for commercial vessels have all been revised.

  • The forms have the department’s updated name and logo after the department had a name change and became the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) in 2022.
  • The privacy statements when submitting information have been revised in MARS as well as in the offline forms
  • The department name and address on the Biosecurity Status Document (BSD) template, both the header and footer have been revised.
  • Ballast water report questions have been amended. Refer to the separate ‘Revised MARS ballast water reporting: import industry notice’.

In addition the offline forms have had their data fields updated to match information already in MARS:

  • Pre-arrival Report (PAR)
    • Port list
    • Shipping agency list
  • Non-First Point of Entry (NFP) Application
    • Port list
    • Shipping agency list
  • Ballast Water Report
    • Shipping agency list
    • Treatment systems
  • Human Health Update
    • Shipping agency list
  • Domestic Risk Assessment Application
    • Port list
    • Shipping agency list.

What do you need to do?

Continue to complete vessel reporting directly into the MARS portal as usual. The changes will be automatic and there is nothing more you need to do other than answer each of the questions.

As an alternative to direct MARS access, offline forms can be used by vessel masters or officers where there is limited or unreliable internet connectivity to meet pre-arrival reporting obligations. The MARS offline forms will be available on the MARS offline forms webpage, for use from 24 February 2023.

Vessel masters and shipping agents should make sure to download the revised offline forms to avoid errors and delays when submitting information from the offline forms into MARS.

Where can you find the forms?

The updated offline forms are available on the department’s webpage: MARS offline forms

Vessel reporting requirements and the Biosecurity Act 2015

Vessel masters and shipping agents are reminded:

  • to read and understand the Biosecurity Status Document (BSD) directions and conditions and keep a copy of the current document on board the vessel for the duration of the voyage in Australia.
  • that any changes in circumstances during the voyage in Australian waters, particularly changes to the human health of travellers, must be submitted via MARS or reported to the National Maritime Centre (NMC) as soon as practicable.
  • that a failure to report accurately or comply with a requirement under the Biosecurity Act may result in penalties, including infringement notices, civil penalties, or criminal prosecutions.

Further information

Contact the department’s National Maritime Centre (NMC) by email or phone: 1300 004 605 (in Australia) or +61 8 8201 6185 (outside Australia).

For the latest information on ballast water management, view the Ballast water webpage.

View the Vessels webpages for information on Australia’s biosecurity reporting obligations and responsibilities.

Industry Advice Notice 80-2022 Australian biofouling management requirements and Managing biofouling in Australia webpage.

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip
Page last updated: 21 February 2023

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram