Blog · Port of Brisbane
Port of Brisbane 2026: Trade Growth, Navigational Upgrades, and Biosecurity
1. Navigating Record Trade Volumes and Scheduling
The Port of Brisbane continues to break throughput records, meaning ship operators and agents must be meticulous with their arrival planning. In the 2025 financial year, the port handled a record 1.62 million TEUs and 34.9 million tonnes of total trade, as reported in the Port of Brisbane trade updates. Bulk grain exports, including chickpeas, surged dramatically. For visiting masters and agents, this high throughput translates to busy anchorages and a critical need for accurate Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) coordination. Operators should ensure all prior notifications of movements and pilotage bookings are submitted flawlessly to avoid delays in a highly congested scheduling environment.
2. Long-Term Navigational Upgrades: The Channel Enhancement Project
To support this trade boom and the global trend toward larger vessels, the Port of Brisbane is advancing its 25-year Channel Enhancement Project. This capital dredging program aims to deepen and widen the existing navigational channels, starting from the North West Channel adjacent to Bribie Island through to the Brisbane River. The project is currently progressing through the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) phase under the Queensland Coordinator-General. While this is a long-term development, ship operators should monitor local Notices to Mariners for any geotechnical or early works testing that might temporarily impact navigational tracks in Moreton Bay.
3. Federal Biosecurity Rules for Brisbane Arrivals
Before a vessel even enters Australian territorial seas, operators must comply with strict federal biofouling rules administered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). Operators submit this data through the Maritime Arrivals Reporting System (MARS) pre-arrival report. As of 30 April 2026, the Australian Biofouling Management Requirements for Commercial Vessels (ABFMR-CV) Version 4 is in effect. According to DAFF's biofouling guidelines, there are exactly three accepted proactive biofouling management practices. Operators must either operate under a biofouling management plan and record book consistent with ABFMR Appendix A, clean all biofouling from the hull and niche areas within 30 days before arrival, or implement a pre-approved alternative practice. Relying solely on a compliant antifouling coating is not an accepted practice.
While the 2023 IMO biofouling guidelines (resolution MEPC.378(80)) provide excellent voluntary standards, the ABFMR is the binding minimum for Australia. If you need help drafting compliance paperwork, Berthfile offers a biofouling copilot that aligns your documentation with DAFF expectations before submission.
4. Queensland's Strict Stance on In-Water Cleaning
If a vessel arrives heavily fouled, operators cannot simply order a hull clean at a Brisbane anchorage. In-water cleaning in Queensland is heavily restricted to protect the state from invasive species. Queensland already manages three established marine pests, as noted by Biosecurity Queensland. Cleaning boats in the water should only be undertaken when removing the vessel from the water is not operationally practicable. Furthermore, any in-water cleaning in Queensland requires separate state approval from Biosecurity Queensland and the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI), on top of any federal requirements.
Approval usually requires strict containment methods (such as sucker trucks and impermeable booms) to ensure no biocide or viable biological material enters the water column. The best strategy is always proactive management before the vessel leaves its previous international port.
5. Port State Control Readiness
Finally, while DAFF manages biofouling, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) handles port state control (PSC) and anti-fouling system certification. AMSA maintains a rigorous inspection regime. The 2024 Annual Inspections Report (published in May 2025) recorded 2,264 initial PSC inspections resulting in 133 detentions, yielding a 5.9 percent detention rate. Safety management (ISM) was the largest detainable deficiency category at 27.57 percent. When calling at Brisbane, ensure your planned maintenance systems, watertight integrity checks, and emergency preparedness drills are fully documented and ready for AMSA scrutiny.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice. Always consult official DAFF, AMSA, and MSQ resources before your port call.