Offline pre-arrival reporting forms can be used by vessel masters or officers where there is limited or unreliable internet connectivity to meet their pre-arrival reporting obligations as an alternative to direct MARS access.

Masters with email but no internet access should download and complete offline forms that have been provided by a shipping agent or downloaded direct from this webpage. Once the form is completed, email the xml data file (see the Submit page of the form) back to the shipping agent. The agent will then load this data file into MARS.

Paperless. Efficient. Transparent.

What is MARS?

MARS is an online web portal to be used by commercial vessel masters and shipping agents to submit pre-arrival documents required of all international, commercial, vessels preparing for arrival in Australian territory. MARS has functionality to view information related to the status of a vessel.

The WTO is vital to the Australian Government’s international efforts to push for substantial reductions in trade distorting subsidies, tariffs and non-tariff barriers used by other countries. It also ensures a fair and level playing field for Australia’s agricultural exports. A key objective of the department is to contribute to these efforts and improve export opportunities for Australia’s primary producers.

Technical Barriers to Trade (TBTs) are technical regulations and standards.

They cover all traded goods and include standards for food packaging and labelling, animal welfare, agriculture and veterinary chemicals, fisheries and forestry. TBTs can create interruptions and stifle trade opportunities when they are more trade restrictive than necessary.

TBTs are governed by the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (the TBT Agreement) and its Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade (the TBT Committee).