RESTRICTIONS ON ENTRY TO AUSTRALIA RELATING TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS FOR COMMERCIAL VESSELS

On 1 February 2020, the Prime Minister of Australia announced that any foreign travellers who have left or transited through mainland China on or after 1 February 2020 will be refused entry to Australia, in order to minimise the potential spread of novel coronavirus.

The Australian Government is closely monitoring the situation and the below advice will be updated as needed. 

Australian citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate family, legal guardians and spouses, along with New Zealand citizens eligible for a subclass 444 visa who normally reside in Australia, are exempt from these measures. 

 The Australian Border Force (ABF), working with partner agencies, has established advanced screening and reception arrangements to facilitate identification of those individuals to whom these measures apply.

 The ABF acknowledges the impact this will have on operations. 

All vessel masters will be required to answer the following health screening questions as part of their entry reporting:

1. Has the vessel been in mainland China on or after 1 February 2020?

2. Has any person on the vessel been in mainland China on or after 1 February 2020?

3. Has any person on the vessel been in contact with a proven case of novel coronavirus infection in the last 14 days?

ABF and Biosecurity officers remain responsible for border clearance processes. Vessels that report ill persons will undergo a human health inspection by a Biosecurity Officer on arrival in Australia, and before the vessel is granted pratique.

Vessels that report persons who have been in mainland China on or after 1 February 2020 will be subject to additional restrictions outlined in this document. 

For Commercial Vessels that departed mainland China prior to 1 February 2020

• Standard Biosecurity requirements and restrictions will apply. You must still identify any ill traveller or member of the crew as part of your pre-arrival report. 

For Commercial Vessels that departed mainland China on or after 1 February 2020

• All crew will remain on-board while the vessel is berthed in Australia.   • Crew are only able to disembark to conduct essential vessel functions and crew must wear personal protective equipment while performing these functions.  • The restrictions above apply until 14 days has elapsed since the vessel or any person on- board left mainland China.

For Commercial Vessels with crew joining from mainland China 

• Where a commercial vessel has crew joining the vessel and that crew have travelled to or transited through mainland China on or since 1 February 2020, all crew are to remain on- board the vessel.  • Crew are only able to disembark to conduct essential vessel functions and crew must wear personal protective equipment while performing these functions.   • The restrictions above apply until 14 days has elapsed since the vessel or any person on- board left mainland China.

For Maritime Industry 

• Industry members engaging with commercial maritime vessels subject to the restrictions outlined above should consider the use of personal protective equipment.  • Maritime Pilots will be provided personal protective equipment for the initial engagement with those vessels subject to restrictions.

Local Port Authority

The requirements outlined in this document are required to facilitate border clearance of vessels and their crew. Local port authorities may have additional requirements over and above those outlined.   

For general information concerning the Novel Coronavirus please refer to the Department of Health website (https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov)