24 June 2026
Who does this notice affect?
All vessel owners, operators, masters, and shipping agents who represent international cruise vessels and non-commercial vessel operators preparing for arrival into Australian territory.
What is changing?
This notice outlines key reporting and communication requirements to ensure vessel owners, operators, masters, and shipping agents understand the obligations for reporting prior to arrival and are aware of Australia's mandatory biosecurity requirements.
1. Cruise vessel announcements
The person in charge or the operator of an incoming vessel, which is subject to biosecurity control under subsection 191(2) or (4) of the Biosecurity Act 2015, must ensure that each person (including crew members) on board the vessel is given information about biosecurity requirements.
The biosecurity passenger announcement must not be edited and can be given in writing or orally, including by means of an audio or audiovisual recording. The announcements are in a range of formats at: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/aircraft-vessels-military/vessels/cruise-vessels#cruise-vessel-passenger-announcements.
2. Understanding Vessel Pre-Arrival Reporting Legislative requirements
The operator of a vessel must report accurate pre-arrival information under section 193 of the Act, within a Pre-Arrival Report (PAR).
If they later find that any information they reported is incorrect, they must provide updated details under section 194 of the Act.
Any changes in circumstances during the voyage in Australian waters while subject to biosecurity control must also be reported to the department as soon as practicable. Section 51A of the Biosecurity Regulation 2016 places responsibility on the vessel operator to provide updated information, where necessary, after they have submitted the PAR.
For example, changes to human health, crew disembarkation details, or the detection of insects or animals after the PAR was submitted.
Vessel operators are responsible for ensuring reported information is accurate and up to date.
3. Australian disability assistance dogs travelling on cruise vessels within domestic Australian waters
Handlers of assistance dogs within Australia are no longer required to seek the department’s approval to take an assistance dog on a cruise vessel within Australian waters. This applies to handlers and animals already in Australia (which are not subject to biosecurity control), travelling on cruises which start and end in Australian ports, and which only travel through Australian waters.
This does not apply to international assistance dogs, or Australian assistance dogs boarding cruises travelling outside of Australian waters – these dogs require biosecurity intervention - see further information on our website: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/cats-dogs/assistance-dogs.
Cruise ship operators have mandatory reporting obligations which provide assurance that biosecurity risks are effectively monitored and managed. Visit our webpage for more information: Travelling with assistance dogs on a cruise ship and read a recently published Import Industry Advice Notice www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/import/industry-advice/2025/139-2025.
4. Travelling through the Torres Strait
Non-commercial vessel operators transiting through the Torres Strait or within any Australian Territorial Waters are entitled to uninterrupted passage in accordance with Articles 17, 18, 38, and 39 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
For vessels undertaking such transit, submission of a Pre-Arrival Report (PAR) is not required for these journeys. This includes instances where operators anchor briefly for safety reasons (e.g. avoiding night transit).
However, should vessel operators engage in any interaction with persons, other vessels, wildlife, or plan to go ashore, a PAR must be submitted and, at a minimum, the pratique process completed to assess the human health of all persons on the vessel. For questions, contact a maritime biosecurity office: www.agriculture.gov.au/about/contact/phone/vessel.
Further information
Read the Disembarking Crew Quick Reference Guide QRG10: MARS communications and training materials – DAFF.
Reminder to vessel masters and shipping agents
- 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.
- Any changes in circumstances during the voyage in Australian waters, particularly changes to the human health of crew/passengers, must be reported via MARS or reported to the National Maritime Centre (NMC) as soon as practicable.
- Ensure the port, billing and crew agencies are correctly entered in MARS for accurate billing at each disembarkation port.
- A failure to report accurately or comply with a requirement under the Biosecurity Act 2015 may result in penalties, including infringement notices, civil penalties, or criminal prosecutions.
For further clarification regarding maritime matters or the subjects of this notice 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.