Invasive species present an increasing threat to Southern Ocean and Antarctic ecosystems, with monitoring for non-native species especially challenging in these remote environments. Vessel biofouling has been identified as the primary vector for Southern Ocean and Antarctic introductions. We investigated biofouling species in the Port of Hobart, one of the five recognised Antarctic Gateways, utilising settlement plates and determined their efficacy as a monitoring tool to inform biofouling management and marine invasion risk. Over a 12-month period, 200 settlement plates were deployed under the main port in Hobart (in the vicinity of Antarctic vessel berths) across multiple locations, depths and orientations to replicate the hull of an Antarctic-bound vessel. 43 different biofouling taxa were identified, 28 were non-native or cryptogenic in Tasmania and 25 of these taxa have been previously recorded on Antarctic-bound vessels. Strong effects of season and depth were identified, indicating time periods and locations (such as vessel niche areas) where biofouling risk is likely to be heightened. We show that settlement plates provide an effective and scalable tool for monitoring biofouling communities and highlight the need for appropriate biofouling management prior to vessel departure to vulnerable Southern Ocean and Antarctic locations.