Responsibilities

Responsibilities: clearance of vessels

The master of the vessel is responsible for:

a) notifying the harbour master of the impending arrival of the vessel into an approved port with the estimated time of arrival;

b) providing a list of animals and plants on the vessel and animal and plant products in the ship’s stores, with their country of origin and ports of loading; updating the list and master’s certificate if agricultural produce is added while in the country;

c) providing the shipping agent with details of the time of arrival of the vessel and details of any animals on board;

d) entering a bond for the control and security of any animals on board the vessel and providing adequate security for the animals while in port;

e) giving 48 hours notice of departure to the senior biosecurity officer (port operations) if the there is a bonded animal on board;

f) providing prior notification of any non-compliance to the crew and passengers;

g) informing the crew and passengers of all quarantine requirements that apply; and

h) ensuring that all personnel associated with the vessel comply with the quarantine requirements.

The shipping agent will be responsible for:
  1. notifying customs, immigration and the biosecurity service of the time of arrival of the vessel and making arrangements for boarding;
  2. providing the biosecurity service with details of:
  1. the last port of the vessel;
  2. the number of crew, their nationality, vessel type and anchorage;
  3. the method of garbage disposal; and
  4. any animals on board;

c.  a manifest to the senior biosecurity officer (port operations).

The customs service is responsible for:
a) enforcing quarantine requirements on vessels while in ports where biosecurity service staff are not present.
Health quarantine is responsible for:
a) granting pratique and for surveillance of sanitation and the health of passengers and crew.
The chief biosecurity officer (operations) is responsible for:
  1. approving the requirements for the removal and disposal of quarantine waste; and
  2. advising and assisting biosecurity officers to carry out their duties.
The chief biosecurity officer (animals) is responsible for:
  1. arranging the examination of animals if considered necessary by the biosecurity officers.
The senior biosecurity officer (port operations) is responsible for:
a) providing competent staff for inspection of the vessel;
 b) advising the chief biosecurity officer (operations) of any animals on board; and
c) monitoring and reviewing the procedure and initiating and implementing changes as necessary.
The biosecurity officer is responsible for:
  1.  knowing the correct procedure for ship inspection and having all notices, forms and equipment;
  2.  receiving the stores/provision list;
  3.  providing all notices and forms to, and having forms signed by, the master;
  4.  examining the ship’s log and questioning the master on recent movements and loadings, and confirming the vessel’s previous and next ports of call;
  5. inspecting the provisions storage areas and sealing/bonding quarantine risk materials;
  6.  inspecting any plants carried onboard;
  7.  securing any infested stores / provisions / plants, arranging for their treatment or destruction and sending specimens of pests for identification;
  8.  bonding any live animals;
  9.  inspecting garbage facilities and storage, and ensuring that the master is aware of all garbage requirements and any special requirements that have been approved for the removal and destruction of garbage;
  10.  ensuring that the master notifies the crew and passengers of quarantine restrictions;
  11.  inspecting and clearing the vessel;
  12.  clearing any disembarking passengers and their baggage using the methods covered in Operational Procedure for Clearance of International Passengers, and any goods landed by the crew;
  13.  recording the information detailed in the Ship Boarding Report and Ship Inspection Check List;
  14.  sending a copy of the Ship Boarding Report for coast wise vessels and, if an animal is on board, a copy of the Shipmaster’s Bond to the senior biosecurity officer at the next port of call; and
  15.  inspecting bonded animals just prior to departure to verify that the requirements of the bond have been met.

 

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