What visa or shore-pass do I need for Fremantle?

Seafarers calling at Fremantle on a vessel are generally exempt from regular tourist visas under Convention 108 / 185 (Seafarers' Identity Documents) if their flag administration has ratified the convention and they hold an SID. The standard document is the seaman's book + ship's crew list. Australia may also require a shore pass issued by the agent. Confirm before you board the vessel — visa rules vary by nationality and by recent immigration-policy changes.

Is there a seafarer welfare centre at Fremantle?

Yes — 2 seafarer welfare centres are listed for Fremantle in our directory. The centres are typically run by the Mission to Seafarers, Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea), or a regional ministry, and offer wifi, transport, shop, chaplaincy, and advocacy. Walk-in is normal; no appointment needed.

Is there a crisis or welfare helpline I can call from Fremantle?

Yes — 6 helplines are listed for Australia in our directory, plus ISWAN's 24-hour multilingual SeafarerHelp (+44 20 7323 2737) and the ITF Helpline. Helplines handle crisis support, abandonment, wage theft, mental health, and bereavement.

What's the nearest hospital to Fremantle?

Most major ports have a port-area hospital with seafarer-accustomed admissions; the welfare centre and the ship's agent can both advise. For serious cases, the nearest international hospital is normally in the same city or the next major city. The nearest major airport is Perth Jandakot Airport (JAD), about 13 km away — useful for medevac planning.

Is Fremantle a recognised crew-change port?

Yes — Fremantle is listed in our directory of recognised crew-change hubs, consolidated from IMO MSC.1/Circ.1636, ICS/IFSMA briefings, and ITF priority-port reports. Recognised hubs typically have better port-state and immigration facilitation for crew-change operations, faster visa processing for seafarers, and more welfare-centre presence.

Fremantle

UN/LOCODE AUFRE · Australia · Asia-Pacific · WA

Crew change hub

Crew guide

Shore leave

Fremantle serves Perth and the whole of Western Australia. Container, bulk, and cruise traffic. MCV + shore-pass procedure standard. Mission to Seafarers Fremantle operates a long-standing centre with strong local ties.

Walking distance + transit

Fremantle port is walking distance from Fremantle town centre (5-10 minutes). Perth CBD is 25 minutes by train (Fremantle Line, direct). Perth Airport is 45 minutes from the port.

Essentials

ATMs: NAB, ANZ, Commonwealth in Fremantle town and central Perth
Money changers: Travelex at Perth Airport; several in central Perth
Hospital: Fiona Stanley Hospital (Perth), Fremantle Hospital
Prayer rooms: Perth Mosque (William Street), Rivervale Mosque
Halal food: cluster in Northbridge (Perth) and central Fremantle
Supermarket: Coles, Woolworths in Fremantle Markets area
SIM card: Telstra, Optus at Perth Airport or any mall

Seafarer tips

Do: use the Fremantle Line train to get to Perth cheaply. Don't: attempt to swim at unpatrolled beaches — Perth waters have a real shark risk. Watch for: WA's remoteness means medical evacuations from anchorage-in-Indian-Ocean can take 12+ hours; ensure P&I cover is current before signing on for the WA / Pilbara trade.

Last verified: 2026-07-01. Confirm with ship's agent before going ashore — local policy changes.

Fremantle (UN/LOCODE AUFRE) is a designated seaport with an adjacent airport in Australia (WA) in the southern Asia-Pacific region. The port operates on Australia/Sydney, uses the Australian Dollar (AUD), runs shore power at 230V/50Hz (Type I). Nearest major airport for crew changes is Perth Jandakot Airport (JAD), 13 km from the port.

Reference

Coordinates: -32.0534086, 115.7586172
Time zone: Australia/SydneyUTC +11:00observes DST
Local currency: AUD— Australian Dollar
Languages: en
Nearest airport: JADPerth Jandakot Airport~13 km
Electricity: 230 V50 Hzplugs I(country default — verify at berth)
Climate: CfaHumid subtropical
Country-coastal Köppen zone (most ports cluster on the coast). For port-coordinate resolution use Kottek 2006 0.5° grid.
Function codes: 1--4----
seaport · airport
Port authority: Fremantle Ports

Operational details

Compiled from public port-authority and P&I-club directories. Always verify current contacts via your agent before arrival.

Pilotage / VTS

Fremantle VTS

VHF: Ch 16 / 12
Phone: +61 8 9430 3555
Web: www.fremantleports.com.au

P&I correspondents

· Holman Fenwick Willan Perth
· Norton Rose Fulbright Perth
· Clyde & Co Perth

Port agents

· GAC Australia Fremantle
· Inchcape Australia Fremantle
· Wilhelmsen Australia

ISPS security level (normal): 1

Outer Harbour deepwater berths; Indian Ocean swell — S-SW swells from Roaring Forties; iron ore and grain bulk at Kwinana nearby.

Helplines for seafarers in Australia

Welfare, abandonment, wages, medical, mental health, harassment — 24/7 lines where available. See full helplines directory.

Stella Maris Australia (Apostleship of the Sea)
Asia-Pacific · Office hours · en
📞 +61 7 3864 2261 [email protected]www.stellamarisaustralia.org
Lifeline Australia
Asia-Pacific · 24/7 · en
📞 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au
AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) — Crew Welfare
Asia-Pacific · Mon-Fri 8-17 AEST · en
📞 +61 2 6279 5000 [email protected]www.amsa.gov.au
ISWAN Australia
Asia-Pacific · Mon-Fri 9-17 AEST · en
📞 +61 1800 071 217 [email protected]www.iswan.org.uk/our-work/regional-offices/iswan-australia
ISWAN SeafarerHelp
Global · 24/7 · en, ar, es, fr
📞 +44 800 012 1004 WhatsApp [email protected]www.seafarerhelp.org
ISWAN Mental Health & Wellbeing helpline
Global · 24/7 · en, es, ru, tl
📞 +44 20 3713 7273 [email protected]www.iswan.org.uk/our-work/iswans-mental-health-and-wellbeing-strategy

Other ports in Australia

All ports in Australia →

Survival information

Practical information for crew arriving here. Verified where possible — see sources. Spot a mistake or missing detail? Tell us.

Emergency contacts

Australia Emergency: 000 · 24/7
AMSA Rescue Coordination Centre Australia: +61 2 6230 6811 · 24/7
Fremantle Ports duty officer: +61 8 9430 3555 · 24/7

Hospitals / clinics

Fiona Stanley Hospital
11 Robin Warren Drive, Murdoch WA
+61 8 6152 2222
Fremantle Hospital
Alma Street, Fremantle WA
+61 8 9431 3333

Shore leave

Australia requires a Maritime Crew Visa (MCV / subclass 988) for all non-Australian crew before arrival. The MCV is free, applied for online, valid 3 years, multiple entry. Apply at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/maritime-crew-988. Without an MCV you cannot leave the vessel even for transit to the airport.

Plan it: /tools/shore-leave-port-card

Transport

Nearest major airport: Perth Jandakot Airport (JAD (~13 km)). Vessel agent normally arranges taxi or seafarer-centre shuttle to/from the airport at sign-on / sign-off. Confirm transport with the agent at least 24 hours before disembarkation.

SIM & Wi-Fi

Major operators: Telstra, Optus, Vodafone. Tourist SIM at airport arrivals or 7-Eleven citywide. Stella Maris + Mission to Seafarers operate in Sydney, Melbourne, Fremantle, Newcastle, Brisbane with free Wi-Fi + SIM-card sales.

Consular contacts

PH Consulate General of the Philippines — Sydney

Related rights: shore leave · medical care · abandonment · unpaid wages.

Port-state-control region: amsa MoU · how to file a PSC complaint.

Fremantle: seafarer FAQ

Is shore leave allowed at Fremantle?: Shore leave at Fremantle: Australia requires a Maritime Crew Visa (MCV / subclass 988) for all non-Australian crew before arrival. The MCV is free, applied for online, valid 3 years, multiple entry. Apply at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/maritime-crew-988. Without an MCV you cannot leave the vessel even for transit to the airport.. Shore leave policy is set by the port authority, the flag administration, and the visa regime of Australia. Confirm with the agent before stepping ashore.
What visa or shore-pass do I need for Fremantle?: Seafarers calling at Fremantle on a vessel are generally exempt from regular tourist visas under Convention 108 / 185 (Seafarers' Identity Documents) if their flag administration has ratified the convention and they hold an SID. The standard document is the seaman's book + ship's crew list. Australia may also require a shore pass issued by the agent. Confirm before you board the vessel — visa rules vary by nationality and by recent immigration-policy changes.
Is there a seafarer welfare centre at Fremantle?: Yes — 2 seafarer welfare centres are listed for Fremantle in our directory. The centres are typically run by the Mission to Seafarers, Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea), or a regional ministry, and offer wifi, transport, shop, chaplaincy, and advocacy. Walk-in is normal; no appointment needed.
Is there a crisis or welfare helpline I can call from Fremantle?: Yes — 6 helplines are listed for Australia in our directory, plus ISWAN's 24-hour multilingual SeafarerHelp (+44 20 7323 2737) and the ITF Helpline. Helplines handle crisis support, abandonment, wage theft, mental health, and bereavement.
What's the nearest hospital to Fremantle?: Most major ports have a port-area hospital with seafarer-accustomed admissions; the welfare centre and the ship's agent can both advise. For serious cases, the nearest international hospital is normally in the same city or the next major city. The nearest major airport is Perth Jandakot Airport (JAD), about 13 km away — useful for medevac planning.
Is Fremantle a recognised crew-change port?: Yes — Fremantle is listed in our directory of recognised crew-change hubs, consolidated from IMO MSC.1/Circ.1636, ICS/IFSMA briefings, and ITF priority-port reports. Recognised hubs typically have better port-state and immigration facilitation for crew-change operations, faster visa processing for seafarers, and more welfare-centre presence.

For the arriving crew

Pilot ladder (SOLAS V/23) — rigging + inspection + Master's duty of care.
Pre-arrival checklist — the standard bridge + engine + agent workflow before entering port.
Ships' agent — role + documentation + interface with pilotage + tug + immigration.
Currency at port — cash-carrying limits + declaration + safe practices.
Hours of rest — STCW VIII/1 + MLC A2.3 rest rules during port operations.

Sources & verification (14)

country_iso3 · ISO 3166-1 (AU)retrieved 2026-05-06
country_name · ISO 3166-1 (AU)retrieved 2026-05-06
currency_code · ISO 4217:2015 (AUD)retrieved 2026-05-06
currency_name · ISO 4217:2015 (AUD)retrieved 2026-05-06
languages · CIA World Factbook (public domain), national-language listing (AU)retrieved 2026-05-06
timezone_iana · IANA tz database (Australia/Sydney)retrieved 2026-05-06
timezone_utc_offset · ECMA-402 Intl.DateTimeFormat (computed) (Australia/Sydney)retrieved 2026-05-06
timezone_dst · ECMA-402 Intl.DateTimeFormat (computed) (Australia/Sydney)retrieved 2026-05-06
electricity · IEC TR 60083 plug-and-socket standard list (AU)retrieved 2026-05-06
function_codes_expanded · UNECE Rec. 16 — UN/LOCODE function-code mask (1--4----)retrieved 2026-05-06
nearest_major_airport · OurAirports (CC0) — davidmegginson.github.io/ourairports-data (JAD)retrieved 2026-05-07
wikidata_qid · Wikidata SPARQL (P1937 UN/LOCODE join) (Q5501488)retrieved 2026-05-07
port_authority · Wikidata SPARQL (P1937 UN/LOCODE join) (Q15627904)retrieved 2026-05-07
climate_classification · Kottek et al. 2006 / Beck et al. 2018 — country-coastal Köppen zone (AU)retrieved 2026-05-07

Last verified 5 months ago

High confidence

Editorial confidence: how we grade. Data sources and methodology: /sources.