Coastal and Marine Pollution

Code of Practice for In-water Hull Cleaning and Maintenance

Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council, 2000

1. Background

1. In recent years much attention had been focussed on the introduction of exotic marine organisms via ship's ballast. Another way of transporting exotic marine organisms is via a ship's hull.

2. To minimise the risk of further exotic organisms establishing in Australian waters, ANZECC in consultation with the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service has established the following Code of Practice for In-water Hull Cleaning and Maintenance.

2. Application

1. These requirements shall apply in the Australian waters and are applicable to all commercial vessels.

2. These requirements are to be used with any relevant state environmental protection agency requirements.

3. Procedures

1. No part of a vessel's hull treated with antifoulant is to be cleaned in Australian waters without the written permission of the Harbour Master, local government or state environmental protection agency (administering authority).

2. In-water hull cleaning is prohibited, except under extra ordinary circumstances and permission will not normally be granted.

3. The cleaning of sea chests, sea suction grids and other hull apertures may be permitted provided that any debris removed (including encrustation, barnacles, weeds) is not allowed to pass into the water column or fall to the sea bed and subject to any other conditions attached to the permit. An application seeking permission to carry out this work must be lodged with the administering authority at least five (5) working days prior to commencement of the anticipated start date. Such application will detail how encrustations, barnacles and other debris will be contained and or collected for disposal as well as the method of disposal.

4. The polishing of ship's propellors may be permitted subject to any conditions attached to the permit. An application seeking permission to carry out "propellor polishing" must be lodged with the administering authority at least five (5) working days prior to commencement of the work.

3. Applications for permits may be facsimiled to the administering authority.

Download the Permit Application

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• Download The Permit Application (permit.pdf - 88 KB)

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