At Flinders Ports we are committed to maintaining a secure maritime border at each of our seven ports locations in South Australia.
The current security level at all of our ports:
- Security Level 1
What do I do if there is an emergency, or I see unusual or suspicious activity?
If you see a security emergency at our port precincts, please call the Police on 000.
If you are concerned about any suspicious or unusual activity, please report it to Flinders Ports’ security officers on site. Alternatively, please call our 24-hour security number +61 (0)8 8447 0600.
All suspicious or unusual activity should also be reported to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400.
In and around our berths we have waterside and landside restricted zones that we have developed as part of our Maritime Security Plans.
No unauthorised access is allowed to these secure prohibited areas.
Waterside Restricted Zones
Under our Waterside Restricted Zones, all vessels are required to keep 50 metres off the wharf face and 25 metres forward and aft of the ship at the berth.
Landside Restricted Zones
Landside restricted zones vary from berth to berth depending on the cargo being handled and the infrastructure in and around the berth facility.
If you or your agent require to enter one of our landside restricted zones you will need to have a current Flinders Ports Access card and a Maritime Security Identification Card (MSIC).
For further information about any of our landside restricted zones, please call us on +61 (0)8 8447 0600.
Biosecurity at our Ports
Under the Biosecurity Act 2015, all international vessels and goods become subject to biosecurity control on entering Australian territory (12NM offshore).
Vessels subject to biosecurity control must only enter Australia at ports that have been determined as first points of entry (FPOE) under section 229 of the Biosecurity Act 2015, unless permission has been granted by the department to enter a non-first point of entry (under subsection 247(2) of the Act).
This ensures that vessels enter Australia at a location that has appropriate facilities and personnel to manage the biosecurity risks to an acceptable level.
Want to know more?
Please click here to access information relating to Biosecurity and our Ports.
Biosecurity Incident Response Procedures
Flinders Ports Inductions
To apply for a Flinders Ports Access Card, you must complete an application form
Please send to Flinders Ports via email [email protected]
- Completed application form
- Copy of the applicant’s MSIC (or evidence of applying eg receipt)
- A photo of the applicant (headshot)
- Notify Flinders Ports a) collect the access card from our Port Adelaide office or b) post the card.
Induction details will be emailed to the email address on the application form.
A Flinders Ports Access Card will only be issued to those people who hold a Maritime Security Identification Card – MSIC or provide evidence of applying for an MSIC (eg receipt)
A fee of $100 is payable per card. Payment can only be made by EFT. An invoice will be emailed once the access card has been created.
How do I renew my Flinders Ports Access Card?
If you have a Flinders Ports Access Card which is due to expire, it is possible to renew this for a further two years, providing you have a valid MSIC. There is no need to renew your photo, but you will need to renew your induction status and pay a renewal fee of $100 for your new card.
Applying for Access – FAQs
How long will the online induction take and where should I get my photograph taken?
Inductions for port users normally take about one hour, but it does depend on which areas of our port facilities that you need to access.
We require a headshot of the applicant to be emailed through to [email protected] before your card can be printed. All access cards are created at our Head Office in Port Adelaide, so your card will be posted to you if you are working at one of our regional ports.
Do I have to pay for the card?
Yes, the card costs $100 and is valid for two years.
What should I do if I have lost my card?
If you lose your card, you must report it to Flinders Ports as soon as possible and the lost card will be cancelled.
You will need to apply for a replacement card and pay a fee of $100 for your new card.
What happens if I don't have a card, or I can't locate my card, can I still gain access?
No, we have a strict policy on access which is applied without exception: no induction, no card means no access.
Even if you are accessing the port on a one-off basis you will still need an access card. If you need to gain entry, please call us today on +61 (0)8 8447 0600 to get the application process started and get the access you need.
Will my Flinders Ports Access Card give me access to all berths and through all electronic gates?
No, your Flinders Ports Access Card will only give you access to the berths and gates you requested access for and that we have approved.
Are ship's crew allowed to leave their ship and what will they require?
When a ship arrives at one of our ports, the Flinders Ports’ pilot will issue the vessel’s Captain with Flinders Ports Access Cards for the ship’s crew.
The ship’s Captain is responsible for these cards and must keep a register of whom these cards are given to.
When the vessel departs, the Captain must give the Flinders Ports Access Cards back to our pilot along with the register of card recipients. A $50 fine will be issued for any lost or stolen cards that are not returned by the Captain.
What happens when a ship's crew changes?
Ship crew changes are handled by the ship’s agent and the agent will organise entry into the port.
How do access requirements differ under the three different security levels - security level 1, 2 and 3?
Security level 1 is the normal security level at Flinders Ports’ facilities. Under level 1, you will need your Flinders Ports Access Card to gain access to our facilities through all of our electronic gates.
If we are advised to by Australian Government agencies to increase our security levels, to level 2 or 3, our electronic access gates will be manned, port users will need to show their MSIC to our security personnel at the gates and correctly display their MSIC card at all times while on site.
At levels 2 or 3, we may also be required to conduct random stop and searches of anyone within our port precincts.
Maritime Security Identification Card (MSIC)
If you work in a maritime security zone you need an MSIC.
The MSIC is a nationally consistent identification card which confirms that the holder has passed the background checks required for individuals who work in a maritime and/or offshore security zone.
Even younger workers under the age of 18 must have a valid MSIC to work in these restricted zones. The MSIC together with a Flinders Ports Access Card is needed for workers to gain access to Flinders Ports’ berths and other restricted areas.
MSIC – FAQs
How do I know whether I need an MSIC?
You will need an MSIC if you work on a wharf, onboard a ship or an offshore oil and gas facility.
If you visit an Australian regulated port, ship or offshore facility more than once a year to deliver or collect goods, provide services or conduct regular maintenance, you will also need an MSIC.
How do I obtain an MSIC?
You will need to apply for an MSIC from an authorised MSIC issuing body.
At the Flinders Port Holdings group, we source our MSICs from Veritas Engineering Pty Ltd. Please visit the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development for a full list of bodies authorised to issue MSICs
What will I need for my MSIC application?
You will need to include proof of identification documents:
- one primary identification document and one secondary identification documents, or two tertiary documents.
For your primary identification document you can choose one from the following:
- a valid copy of your birth certificate, a valid copy of your citizenship or naturalisation certificate, a valid Australian passport, a valid passport from another country showing your visa and eligibility to work/status.
For your secondary identification, you may provide one of the following documents, a valid driver’s licence with your photograph, a valid government employee identification card or a valid student identification card.
Alternatively, applicants may provide two of the following tertiary documents: a bank or credit card statement displaying your name and address, a signed statement from your employer or former employer and a rates notice in your name showing your address.
In addition to the identification documents you will need to have your photograph taken by the MSIC issuing authority, provide proof that you need to hold an MSIC for operational reasons and that you are eligible to work in Australia.
What background checks are carried out for the MSIC and why?
The Australian Government will assess your application for an MSIC by checking whether you have been convicted of any serious offences that are relevant to maritime security.
A full list of the offences that are checked before an MSIC is listed on the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development website:
The criminal history background check for an MSIC is conducted on behalf of the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development by Auscheck.
The background checks are necessary to protect Australians from terrorists and other threats to our maritime and offshore facilities. The requirement for every individual entering secure maritime and offshore areas to hold an MSIC means that those individuals have proven their identity, have the right to work in Australia, do not have an adverse security assessment and do not have an adverse criminal record.
What happens if my MSIC application is rejected?
If your MSIC application is rejected, you will be told the reasons why as well as any appeal rights you have, in writing.
Your employer will not be informed and will not receive any information from your background checks. It is your choice whether you wish to discuss your rejected MSIC application, or information from your background checks with your employer.
If you decide not to appeal against the rejection of your MSIC application, or if your appeal is unsuccessful, you will not be allowed to access or work unmonitored in a maritime security zone.
How long is an MSIC card valid for?
You can choose whether to apply for an MSIC card which is valid for two years or four years.
After the validity period expires, you will need to renew your MSIC and undergo another background check before your replacement card can be issued.
If you no longer need to work in a maritime security zone, your MSIC card will be cancelled within the validity period and you must return the cancelled card to the issuing body.
What are the rules for displaying the MSIC?
You should wear your MSIC above waist height at the front or side of your body and the entire front section of your MSIC must be clearly visible.
Not displaying your MSIC at all or displaying it incorrect may incur a fine.
Report a Security Event
Concerned about a security issue at one of our ports?
Call +61 (0)8 8447 0600 or email [email protected] with the title “Security Event” to report a security concern to Flinders Ports.
For further information please use our contact form.
