Safety & Security
Port of Newcastle is a security regulated port as set out in the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act (MTOFSA) 2003.
Access to the port is strictly controlled and unauthorised access to landside, waterside and vessel restricted zones is an offence which carries severe penalties.
Click on the elements in the map below to find out more about exclusion zones and security restrictions at the port.
Maritime Security Levels
In Australia, Maritime Security Levels are part of a framework established under the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003 in compliance with the International Ship & Port Facility Security Code (ISPS). These levels are designed to help manage and respond to security threats in the maritime sector.
Port of Newcastle has Port Operator & Port Facility Operator Maritime Security Plans, approved by the Cyber Infrastructure Security Centre (CISC) of the Department of Home Affairs. Additionally, there are a number of Port facility operators who also have Port Facility Operator security plans approved by CISC.
There are three security levels, and they apply to ships, ports, port facilities, and offshore facilities.
Security Level 1 – Normal
- Default level at which ships and port facilities operate.
- Indicates minimum appropriate protective security measures shall be maintained at all times.
- The level under normal operating conditions where there’s no specific threat.
Security Level 2 – Heightened
- Applied when there is a heightened risk of a security incident.
- Requires additional protective security measures to be maintained.
- Set either temporarily or for a specific area depending on the assessed risk.
Security Level 3 – Exceptional
- Triggered when a security incident is probable or imminent, even if the specific target is not identified.
- The highest level of alert, requiring further specific protective security measures.
- Usually set by the Department of Home Affairs or relevant national security agency in response to serious threats.
Background
At MARSEC Level 1 Port of Newcastle establishes:
Maritime Restricted Zones (under Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003).
All vessel skippers operating in the port will need to be aware to always observe Exclusion / Restricted zones on the water. In the event of a heightened or exceptional security level being declared at the Port of Newcastle, additional security measures will be put in place on both the land and sea.
There is no unauthorised access to the Port of Newcastle’s Water-side Restricted Zones (WRZ) at any security level.
Exclusion Zones (under NSW Marine Safety Reg 2016);
Sect 28 A person, whether or not conveyed by a vessel, must not enter or be in any navigable waters within 30 metres of any moored or anchored seagoing ship, stranded vessel, moored or anchored dredge, floating crane or machinery.
Sect 29 A person, whether or not conveyed by a vessel, must not, without lawful authority, enter or be in any navigable waters within 100 metres of any wharf or marine installation used for the shipment, unshipment or storage of any oil, inflammable liquids, dangerous goods or explosives.
