In a recent Marine Notice, AMSA provides general information to vessel owners, operators, ports and marinas on the Australian biofouling management requirements, the Anti-fouling and in-water cleaning guidelines, the Australian in-water cleaning standards, and the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2011 Guidelines for the control and management of ships’ biofouling to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species (the Biofouling Guidelines).
Australian biofouling management requirements
New requirements for managing biofouling on international vessels arriving in Australia began on 15 June 2022. Operators of all vessels subject to biosecurity control will be required to provide information on how biofouling has been proactively managed prior to arriving in Australian territorial seas.
The department will use the information to target vessel interventions. This will allow more efficient use of resources and statutory powers to assess and inspect vessels, and more effective response to unacceptable biosecurity risks associated with biofouling.
Vessel operators will receive less intervention for biofouling if they comply with one of the following 3 accepted biofouling management practices:
A vessel operator that has not applied one of these 3 accepted biofouling management practices will be subject to further questions and assessment of the biosecurity risk associated with biofouling on the vessel.
Australia will phase in the introduction of the new requirements. From 15 June 2022 to 15 December 2023 an education-first approach will be taken to assist vessels to comply. However, powers under theBiosecurity Act 2015will continue to be used to manage any unacceptable biosecurity risks associated with biofouling.
The Australian biofouling management requirements are available at Managing biofouling in Australia. Future updates will be available through the department’s subscription centre.
2015 Anti-Fouling and In-Water Cleaning Guidelines for Australia and New Zealand
The 2015 Anti-fouling and in-water cleaning guidelines (2015 Guidelines) provide guidance on best-practice approaches for:
Persons who wish to undertake in-water cleaning of vessels in Australian jurisdictions should:
The Australian in-water cleaning standards
Australia is developing Australian in-water cleaning standards that will specify the minimum requirements for in-water cleaning of biofouling from vessels in Australian territorial seas.
The objectives of the standards are to manage the biosecurity and chemical contamination risks associated with in-water cleaning to a minimum acceptable level and to support consistent regulatory decision-making across Australia.
Regulatory approval is required to undertake in-water cleaning operations within Australian territorial seas. The standards will be used by regulators to assess in-water cleaning activities in their jurisdiction.
The Australian in-water cleaning standards will be finalised and published on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s webpageAustralian in-water cleaning standards. These standards will supersede the in-water cleaning guidance in the 2015 Guidelines.
IMO Biofouling Guidelines
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2011 Guidelines for the control and management of ships’ biofouling to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species (Biofouling Guidelines) are intended to provide a globally consistent approach to the management of biofouling. This is through providing information on general measures to minimise the risks associated with biofouling for all types of vessels.
The Biofouling Guidelines are currently under review at the IMO with the final report to be completed in 2023. The intent of this review is to improve the uptake and effectiveness of the Biofouling Guidelines.
