The new boss of Operation Sovereign Borders, Major-General Andrew Bottrell, revealed 46 asylum seekers were intercepted by Australian authorities on  March 20 and were kept at sea until April 18 by customs officials, in what immigration officials have dubbed as a "take back" operation.

Major-General Bottrell said there was a "diplomatic exchange between the Vietnamese government" and the Australian government before the group were returned to the coastal town of Vung Tau, in southern Vietnam.

"There was a level of comfort provided for them," he said.

He told a Senate estimates hearing that Vietnamese officials provided assurance that there would be no retribution for the group's illegal departure from Vietnam.

But Major-General Bottrell admitted the Australian government did not track asylum seekers once they have been returned, under questioning from Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young,

Secretary Michael Pezzullo defended the customs vessel in which they were held, saying it was not a "prison ship" and it was equipped with rooms, bathrooms, and the asylum seekers had been well looked after and provided with quality food.

"I suspect [the asylum seekers were in] more salubrious circumstances than the vessels in which they actually turned up".

The 46 asylum seekers underwent an "enhanced screening" interview to assess whether they had any claims of protection. The interviews took between 40 minutes and two hours, the Senate hearing was told.

According to new screening guidelines that came into effect in March, asylum seekers are no longer immediately asked by Australian officials if they have been tortured or suffer from trauma, as revealed last week.

Immigration officials would not say whether the asylum seekers were asked whether they had been tortured or suffered from trauma.

A take back operation means asylum seekers not found to be needing protection are taken back by their country of origin's government.

Senate Estimates continues.

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