As of June 15, 2022, Australia will require all vessels entering, or intending to enter, Australian territorial waters on any voyage that commenced outside Australian territorial waters to carry a compliant Biofouling Management Plan and associated Record Book.
Considering the new regulation, the American Club notes that the following information is to be included in a vessel’s pre-arrival report:
- Details of any inspections of the vessel for biofouling, cleaning of biofouling or treatment for biofouling undertaken prior to the vessel’s arrival in Australian territory;
- Details of any inspections of the vessel for biofouling, cleaning of biofouling or treatment for biofouling intended while the vessel is in Australian territory;
- Practices included in any plan of biofouling management for the vessel that is currently in use;
- Details of the voyage history of the vessel in the past 12 months.
A Biofouling Management Plan and associated Record Book that are compliant with the International Maritime Organization’s 2011 Guidelines for the Control and Management of Ships’ Biofouling to Minimize the Transfer of Invasive Aquatic Species, will be considered sufficient in meeting the Australian biofouling management requirements.
Implementation of an effective biofouling management regime is critical for minimizing the transfer of invasive aquatic species. The biofouling management measures to be undertaken on a ship should be outlined in a biofouling management plan, and records of biofouling management practices kept in a biofouling record book.
