Commercial mariners will be able to more freely enter and travel around Tasmania after new maritime class exemptions went into effect at midnight last night.
Even before the new, 06 May rules, freight-related mariners could already travel into Tasmania without going into mandatory quarantine. The new rules allow other commercial mariners, such as marine pilots, to enter Tasmania without being subject to mandatory quarantine too.
Neither set of rules applies to cruise ship crew.
Tasmania’s basic quarantine rule and freight-related mariners
The basic rule is that everyone who arrives in Tasmania quarantines for 14-days. Since at least 18 April, “Essential Travellers” have been able to apply for an exemption from being subject to mandatory quarantine. There are many categories of essential traveller.
Ship crew involved in the delivery of persons, freight or logistics into, within and out of, Tasmania are essential travellers. Therefore cargo-hauling seafarers can apply for an exemption from Tasmania’s mandatory quarantine.
Freight-related mariners should indicate the fact that they are essential travellers on their arrivals form. This can be emailed to Biosecurity Tasmania.
Other commercial and government-mariners (not cruise-ship related)
As of 06 May, ship agents and maritime companies will be able to apply to Tasmania’s Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment for a quarantine exemption for other commercial and government vessel mariners. This will include workers such as marine pilots and tug boat crew, among others. Exemptions may be given for mariners who are:
- signing-off a vessel arriving in Tasmania
- arriving from elsewhere in Australia to sign-on to a vessel
- residents of Tasmania who are returning home from elsewhere in Australia
Cruise ship crew are not eligible to apply for these exemptions.
Off-signing crew
Off-signing crew will be allowed to apply for an exemption to disembark without quarantine in Tasmania in order to join another vessel in Australia or to leave the country. Residents will be able to return to their home in Australia.
The availability of this exemption is subject to a variety of health, eligibility and documentary conditions.
On-signing crew
Maritime crew arriving in Tasmania from elsewhere in Australia will be able to apply for a quarantine exemption allowing them to to join a ship provided they have not been overseas in the last 14-days.
This class exemption will only apply to crew transiting from inter-state. Anyone who has arrived in Australia within the 14 days prior to travelling to Tasmania must seek an individual exemption from the State Controller.
The availability of this on-signing class exemption is subject to a variety of health, eligibility and documentary conditions.
Returning residents
Commercial cargo vessel crew members who are normally resident in Tasmania can apply for an exemption to enter the state without quarantine after disembarking elsewhere in Australia. They must transit promptly from their port of disembarkation to the airport.
The availability of this on-signing class exemption is subject to a variety of health, eligibility and documentary conditions.
Further details
Shipping Australia is continuously updating its comprehensive, and freely-accessible resource “Shipping requirements and restrictions at Australian ports“. A comprehensive report of Tasmania’s class exemption, detailing matters such as health, eligibility and documentary conditions, can be found in the Tasmanian section of our COVID-19 updates.
