BIA Victoria - Shipping and Marine Pests

Shipping and Marine Pests

Marine pests can be carried by ships – in the ballast water, stuck to the hull or in sea chests, pipes and other hiding spots. Most people think that ballast water is the main way pests are spread by ships, but this is not the case. Over 70% of introduced species are transported on the hulls.



Unfortunately, there are no rules that say ships need to have clean hulls before they come into Australian waters. At the moment the regulations only cover ballast water. However, having a clean hull is very important to the shipping companies. If a hull is covered with plants, animals or slime, it can slow a ship and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in extra fuel every year. The shipping industry spends millions of dollars on antifouling research.

The exchange of ballast water in Australian waters is now highly regulated and policed to try to reduce the number of pests carried around the world on ships. If ships entering Australia and particularly Victoria do not comply with regulations they can be turned away or prosecuted.



Victoria has rules and regulations governing ships that come in from domestic and foreign ports.

The Victorian Environmental Protection Authority regulates ships entering Victoria from Australian ports. For more information on domestic ballast regulations click here.

Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) regulates ships entering Victoria and Australia from international waters. For more information on international ballast regulations click here.