Well, we are finally tied up safely in Sanctuary Cove, concluding the Horizon PC52 delivery. But before we celebrate the completion of the voyage, let me backtrack and detail the Australian arrival experience.
The final run down the Queensland coast was based on a forecast persistently showing 30 knots of North-Westerly wind. Our strategic swing worked perfectly: we kept going further east toward Bundaberg, then turned sharply south, giving us a far more comfortable angle on the waves and a safe run into the Brisbane River.
We tied up to the fuel dock in the marina, as the dedicated quarantine dock (Q-dock) was occupied. And this is when the trouble started.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) informed the marina that the fuel dock was now strictly out of bounds to everyone while we were tied up for quarantine. Now, that has nothing to do with me, right? Wrong. Apparently, it was entirely my fault.
For the next 18 exhausting hours, we were the inadvertent roadblock. Commercial vessels desperately needed fuel, and their captains were furious when I told them they couldn't use the dock, forcing me to refer them to the equally unhappy marina staff. The marina, in turn, was unhappy with me because they had forgotten to ask us to complete paperwork before entering the marina. In fairness the dock manager did apologise and say things are normally run better there but that didn't stop the other people being annoyed. We were in the middle of a continuous shouting match that had absolutely nothing to do with the delivery itself.
It's funny because Australians like to call people whingers, but from where I was standing, there was an awful lot of complaining going on from the shore-side team, and it certainly wasn't coming from the PC52.
The Violation
I am absolutely not a conspiracy theorist. I definitely believe drugs, weapons, and other dangerous materials need thorough monitoring, and I have nothing to hide personally. But this is how we all feel - until government overreach bursts into your life.
At 7:00 AM, things went from poor to downright invasive. ABF arrived with a team of eight armed officers and a dog. As a sailor, I appreciate efficiency; the dog is usually meant to preclude a destructive search. Except, in this case, they did both, and then some.
They searched lockers, bilges, and compartment of the vessel. The crew and I were made to stand aside while strangers systematically went through our personal belongings.
Then came the final, shocking directive: they announced they were seizing and taking all electronic devices for electronic inspection. We were instructed to write down our PIN codes, and they were bagged up and taken away.
I can tell you, there is no greater feeling of personal violation than having the government seize your primary communication tools and snoop into every aspect of your life with absolutely no cause or suspicion of wrongdoing. When the ABF takes your phone, they aren't just looking at files; they are reading your private messages, looking at your bank logins, viewing your personal photographs, and reading your notes.
It feels no different than armed officers showing up at your front door, demanding to check how you live for no reason, and then going through your personal possessions, reading your diary, and asking your children invasive questions. The feeling of being completely exposed, while being treated as a criminal, is an indelible memory that overshadows the successful arrival.
Critical Advice for Visitors to Australia
If you are thinking of coming to Australia, be absolutely prepared for the fact that your electronic devices can, and probably will, be inspected. This isn't a theory; it's what happened.
Remove Personal Files: Anything you want to remain private, such as financial records, personal notes, or sensitive documents, should be removed from your devices before you arrive.
Wipe Social Media: Anything on your phone will be visible, so delete accounts like Google, Facebook, and Instagram. You can easily install them again later, but having them wiped is the only way to protect your privacy during the clearance process.
It’s a huge inconvenience, but it is the uncomfortable reality of the clearance process here. If they can do it to me they can do it to you.
Despite the highly unpleasant welcome, the Horizon PC52 is safely delivered to Sanctuary Cove, concluding a voyage that was certainly more eventful and eye-opening than planned.