Container and break-bulk discharge

​​​​Break-bulk discharge

A Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment biosecurity officer must receive notification prior to the discharge of break-bulk cargo.

Biosecurity officers conduct surveillance inspections of break-bulk cargo to ensure freedom from contaminants that pose a biosecurity risk. Break-bulk cargo or non-containerised cargo, including new motor vehicles, must be examined externally for soil and other contamination and treated if necessary.

To facilitate the biosecurity risk assessment on break-bulk cargo being discharged form vessels, provide your regional office with:

• vessel name, Lloyd registration no., voyage no., port and berth of discharge
• date and times when discharging/delivering cargo
• marks and description of break-bulk being discharged and delivered
• general cargo description and quantity
• if direct lifting ('under the hook delivery') is to occur, date, times and contact detail.
• any dunnage accompanying the consignment

​​Provide discharge details of break-bulk cargo to your regional office by email or fax at least 24 hours prior to vessel arrival on weekdays and by 1400hrs on Fridays for weekend discharge.

The Notification of container and break-bulk arrival/s form is an example of what may be used to provide the department with notification of the arrival of break-bulk cargo. 

After providing us with these details, biosecurity officers will target specific cargo for external examination and, if required, order contaminated cargo to be treated prior to the cargo being released from the discharge/wharf area.

We seek your cooperation with this request. Failure to supply the required information within the requested timeframe may significantly delay the release of cargo.

Contact a biosecurity officer in your region with any questions about surveillance of break-bulk cargo.

Container discharge (at non-dedicated container terminals)

The department must receive notification prior to the discharge of containers at non-dedicated container terminals.

The Notification of container and break-bulk arrival/s form can also be used to advise the biosecurity officer about container discharges at non-dedicated container terminals. Please complete this form as appropriate and forward to a biosecurity officer in your region.

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment​ regional contacts for container/break-bulk discharge