Port access requirements

All personnel entering our ports to work independently within our Port Security Zones are required to:

hold a current Maritime Security Identification Card (MSIC) under the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Regulations 2003 (MTOFSR) (or if accessing Bunbury, hold a Bunbury Port Facility Card – see below)
have an operational need to access the site
have completed an HSES induction and relevant training

For those wishing to access security zones and do not have an MSIC, you may be issued an appropriate pass and be escorted by an MSIC holder.

Applying for a Maritime Security Identification Card (MSIC)

Maritime Security Identification Card applications can be lodged via the issuing body Veritas portal: MSIC - Maritime Security Identification Card | MSIC Card Renewal

Once an online form is completed, all applicants are required to lodge their applications documents at Australia Post.

The MSIC process also requires:

An Operational Need letter
MSIC Awareness training – completed online through Veritas

Once you attain an MSIC, our relevant Port Security teams will need to activate each Ports specific access to your MSIC. Contact our Port offices in advance to arrange an in-person appointment to set up access.

If you are a Southern Ports employee, speak to the HR team who can assist with adding you to the Veritas Portal to complete the online application process before you head to Australia Post.

If you already have an MSIC issued for access to a non-Southern Ports maritime security zone, you can complete the section under ‘I already have an MSIC’ (Induction Only). If your MSIC is incompatible with our Access Control System, a Facility Access Card will need to be purchased.

Apply for a new MSIC

Renew an existing MSIC

MSIC FAQs

If you do not have an MSIC and need access to enter a Port Security Zone, you can attain an escorted access card that is to be used under the supervision of an MSIC holder.

To do so you must:

Have a valid reason for entry;
attend a Southern Ports Administration Office and register as a Visitor or Supervised Access Worker; and
be continually monitored and escorted by the holder of a valid MSIC

Depending on whether you need to work onsite or not, this access can be granted through a Supervised Access Worker or Visitor Access.

Issued to an individual who does not have an MSIC but requires supervised worker access to a Port Security Zone for work purposes for a single occasion of five (5) calendar days.

The person must:

Complete the HSES induction prior to entry.

At the Port of Bunbury, personnel requiring unescorted access to areas not designated as Port Maritime Security Zones, such as the Customs Act 1901 Section 15 zones require a person to hold a current Bunbury Port Facility Card (this is only for people who do not already hold a current valid MSIC).

To obtain this card, the person must:

make an application for a BFAC to the Southern Ports Administration Office at the Port of Bunbury
Show evidence of photographic identification
Provide evidence of an operational need for Port access
Provide evidence of successful completion of the Southern Ports HSES induction
Pay for the card upfront ($50 per access card, $100 for a replacement).

Issued to visitors who require access to a SPA site for one (1) day who are not conducting any physical work and must be escorted at all times by a valid MSIC/BFAC holder.

The person must:

Complete the visitor induction
Not complete any physical work

Ships crew passes are issued according to each port’s process.

Cards are issued to seafarers from visiting vessels who wish to disembark for shore leave.

The seafarer may be checked and card recorded against the vessel crew list form, with their departure and return time logged by the ships agent, Southern Ports security or an authorised delegate.

Operational Need

An Operational Need letter is required for each worker requiring port access as evidence of a legitimate requirement to access our ports to undertake your work and is usually issued by the organisation the employee works for.

The letter describes in detail:

The Port and facilities the employee needs to access
The secure areas within the Port which they will access
Whether the employee requires unescorted access
How they get to those secure areas.

A new letter is required each time you apply and for or renew your MSIC, and whenever you need to access a new Port that you have not previously requested access to.

Port of Albany security areas consist of a Landside Restricted Zone (yellow), a Waterside Restricted Zone (blue) and Security Regulated Port land encompassed by a Security Regulated Port Boundary as depicted in the following site map. Access to these zones is strictly controlled.

Port of Bunbury security areas consist of a Landside Restricted Zone (yellow), a Waterside Restricted Zone (blue) and Security Regulated Port land encompassed by a Security Regulated Port Boundary as depicted in the following site map. Access to all port areas is strictly controlled.

Areas are designated as Security Regulated Zones where each LRZ and WRZ is activated 30 minutes prior to a security regulated vessel arriving and remains in force until 30 minutes post departure of the vessel.

Inner Harbour:

Outer Harbour:

Port of Esperance security areas consist of a Landside Restricted Zone (yellow), a Waterside Restricted Zone (blue) and Security Regulated Port land encompassed by a Security Regulated Port Boundary as depicted in the following site map. Access to these zones is strictly controlled.