This is a Port of Entry and a Biosecurity First Point of Entry for Australia.

For full details of Clearance into Australia, see the Noonsite Australia Formalities page.

Advance Notice:

Australian Border Force require the master of a vessel arriving in Australia to give notice of impending arrival at least 96 hours before arrival. This notification is required by Australian law and can be done by sending an email to [email protected]  or by phoning +61 2 6246 1325.  Penalties may apply for failure to do so.

Additionally, the Master of the vessel is also required to report their expected arrival to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWE)

Once ABF Darwin Shipping receives notification of an impending arrival, they will contact the vessel’s master outlining local requirements for their entry to Darwin. International arrival clearance of small craft is undertaken at the Cullen Bay Pontoon.

General Clearance:

On approach, contact either a coastal radio station on 2182 kHz or the Darwin Port Authority on VHF Channel 16. There are relay stations around all of Australia’s coasts, making it possible to use VHF radio over much longer distances than normal. The operator should be given the name of the yacht, number of crew and ETA Darwin and be asked to advise Quarantine and, if necessary, Customs.

Prior to the inspection, boats anchor in the quarantine area situated northwest of the commercial harbor. Before proceeding to the Cullen Bay Pontoon, vessels must contact the Cullen Bay Lockmaster on VHF Channel 11 or mobile 0419 421 363 to seek instructions and approval on where to park for clearance.

Quarantine anchorage:

Department of Agriculture Buoy 12°28.5’S 130°49.95’E, inside Fannie Bay or on the northern side of sandbar outside of Cullen Bay / Emery Point. It is possible to shelter in Doctor’s Gully if sea conditions are not suitable in Fannie Bay.

Clearance pontoon:

Cullen Bay pontoon outside of lock 12°27.112’S 130°49.233’E. Contact Cullen Bay Lockmaster (CH 11) or the Department of Home Affairs prior to coming alongside pontoon.

Biosecurity:

Prior to entering a Darwin marina, all yachts, Australian and others, may have to be inspected to prevent the spread of several marine pests (various species of mussel). If a boat has not recently been hauled out/antifouled in Australia (within 14 days and has the paperwork to prove it) it will have to have the hull inspected.

Yachts should call Aquatic Biosecurity on 0413 381 094 or email [email protected] to obtain clearance. The Northern Territory Governments pays for this service, which includes the hull inspection and internal treatment. Yachts must not stop anywhere along the coastline in the Northern Territory and clean their hull.

Please see this link for further information: Hull Pest Inspections for Visiting Boats

Because of the strict quarantine regulations, in the past cruising boats have had all their fresh produce, especially meat, confiscated and destroyed. The attitude seems more relaxed in Darwin where boats intending to spend a short time in Australia have succeeded in having their freezers sealed or have all tinned meat products sealed in a locker.

Clearing Out:

Darwin is a very busy port for small craft clearance, commercial and military vessel activity and cruise ships visits.

To efficiently manage the volume of clearances required, ABF in Darwin ask for five days notice of an intended departure date to allow time to processes the vessel and crew through their systems.  This is a local requirement.  You will need to confirm your appointment with Customs and ABF to clear out, which will take place at the Cullen Bay Marina pontoon.

While ABF endeavour to facilitate all requests whether they fall inside or outside of the five days prior notice, this is determined based on their schedule at the time of the clearance request.

Their email address is [email protected]

Last updated:  February 2024

Ashmore Reef:

If heading for Indonesia, it is possible to stop at Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea.  According to the National Maritime Centre, because the reef is outside the 12NM limit of the Australian border, reporting into MARS is not required for visiting locations outside of the 12NM when the vessel has departed Australia heading for an international location. Yachts therefore do not need to seek permission to stop here. Australian Border Force keeps a large patrol boat moored at the reef and officers are reported to be friendly.

The lagoon is quite long with depths from less than 15m to 500m. To prevent anchor damage to the coral reefs, there are several moorings available in the West Island lagoon in the Recreational Use Zone. The moorings are available on a first come first served basis and if there are no moorings available, anchoring should be confined to sandy areas of West Island lagoon, or outside the marine park to prevent damage to the reef.

Ashmore Reef is a sanctuary for seabirds, shorebirds, marine turtles, dugongs and many other marine species and provides an interesting stopover for yachts travelling between north Western Australia and Indonesia. Find out more at https://parksaustralia.gov.au/marine/parks/north-west/ashmore-reef/.

Previous reports on Ashmore Reef can be found here.

Last updated:  July 2022

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