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Environmental Performance 2004-2005

AMSA, 15th Annual Report, 2004 - 2005

Report pursuant to section 516A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990 specifies, inter alia, that AMSA’s main objects are to:

promote maritime safety;
protect the marine environment from pollution from ships and other environmental damage caused by shipping;
provide a national search and rescue service; and
promote the efficient provision of services by the Authority.

AMSA’s outputs reflect these primary responsibilities and include:

Output 1.1: Safety and environment protection standards for responsible operation of ships.

Output 1.2: Infrastructure for monitoring compliance with safety and environment protection standards.

Output 1.3: A capability to respond to marine pollution incidents.

Output 1.4: Systems that aid safe marine navigation.

Output 2.1: A capability to detect, locate and rescue persons in maritime and aviation distress situations.

Major Activities in 2004-2005

International

AMSA is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of a number of International Maritime Organization (IMO) conventions promoting ecologically sustainable development of the oceans.

The role of IMO in ecologically sustainable development relates to:

Improving the safety and efficiency of maritime transport, thereby increasing global trade and improving economic well-being;
Enhancing marine environment protection to facilitate integrated coastal management and greater access to protein through improved fisheries catches;
Promoting sustainable livelihoods and poverty eradication by encouraging improved standards of employment for seafarers in the global shipping and fishing industries.

The Conventions specifically aimed at the prevention, reduction and control of marine pollution from ships to which Australia is a signatory are:

International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage 1992;
International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage 1992;
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973/78 (MARPOL 73/78);
International Convention Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties 1969;
International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation 1990.

Australia has taken steps toward implementing four new IMO Conventions, subject to ratification:

The International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships 2001 (signed on 19 August 2002);
The International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage 2001 (signed on 23 September 2002);
Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Co-operation to Pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances 2000 (instrument of accession lodged on 16 March 2005); and
International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (signed on 29 May 2005).

These Conventions are expected to reach the required level of international acceptance to enable entry into force within the next few years.

During 2004-2005, AMSA participated actively in the IMO’s consideration of environmental issues. Major activities in this regard included:

Continuing to advance the joint submission by Australia and Papua New Guinea to the IMO seeking its agreement to extend the Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) applying to the Great Barrier Reef to the Torres Strait and approval of associated protective measures. In July 2003, the IMO agreed to provisional designation of Torres Strait as a PSSA and approved the associated protective measure of introducing a two-way shipping route through the Torres Strait, which has since been implemented. The other associated protective measure in relation to pilotage was considered by relevant IMO Committees, which culminated in the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee in July 2005 agreeing to amend the IMO Resolution dealing with the Great Barrier Reef PSSA by extending these arrangements to include Torres Strait.
Adoption by the IMO Assembly in late 2003 of a resolution on IMO policies and practices related to greenhouse gas emissions from ships. The IMO has established a working group to develop strategies to further address the development of controls over greenhouse gas emissions from ships.
Adoption by an IMO Diplomatic Conference in February 2004 of the new International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water and Sediments 2004 to address problems associated with the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms in ships’ ballast water. The Convention will enter into force 12 months after signature by 30 States with combined merchant fleets constituting 35 per cent of world merchant shipping gross tonnage.
Revision of the key annexes to the International Convention for Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL73/78) Annex I (oil) and Annex II (noxious liquid substances) were completed. Revised versions of both Annexes were adopted by the IMO in October 2004, which will enter into force on 1 January 2007. The IMO also is reviewing two key aspects of the Annex IV (sewage) aimed at improving the accepted discharge standards and to advance treatment plant standards.
Revision of the international regime providing compensation for pollution damage from oil tankers including increasing liability limits, greater consistency in application by Member States and more effective management arrangements.
The Protocol on the Establishment of a Supplementary Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, which was agreed by the IMO in May 2003, entered into force internationally on 3 March 2005. It is aimed at ensuring full compensation is available to victims of oil pollution damage from tankers where the total amount payable under the existing compensation regime is insufficient.

National

Ship Safety and Environment Standards

The international maritime conventions are implemented in Australia by the following Commonwealth legislation, for which AMSA has administrative responsibilities:

Some of these convention requirements are given effect by State and Northern Territory legislation. AMSA maintains an ongoing consultation with State and Territory marine administrations on an individual basis and through the Australian Marine Group and the National Marine Safety Committee on the implementation and administration of ship safety and environment protection regulatory standards.

During 2004-2005, AMSA contributed to the requirements for the development of legislation to implement into national law:

The International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships 2001 and the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage 2001 so they can be applied as soon as their international entry into force is achieved.
• Annex VI to the MARPOL 73/78 Convention, dealing with air pollution from ships. This Annex includes limits on emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from diesel engines and sulphur content in ships bunker fuel.
The Protocol on the Establishment of a Supplementary Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage entered into force internationally on 3 March 2005. It is aimed at ensuring full compensation is available to victims of oil pollution damage from tankers where the total amount payable under the existing compensation regime is insufficient. AMSA was involved with DOTARS in consultations with the States/Northern Territory to gain agreement through the Australian Transport Council for Australia to become a party to the Protocol. AMSA also is involved in consultations and processes required for Australia to become a party to the Protocol and amend existing domestic legislation for its implementation.
AMSA promulgated a new part to Marine Orders, Part 91, Marine Pollution Prevention – Oil, made pursuant to the Navigation Act 1912 and the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983 to give effect to amendments to regulations in MARPOL 1975/78 in relation to Annex I (Oil), for the phasing out of single-hull tankers by 2010 and phasing-in a ban on the carriage of heavy grade oil by single hull tankers. A new part to Marine Orders Part 93, Marine Pollution Prevention – Noxious Liquid Substances, made pursuant to the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983 to give effect to amendments to Annex II (Noxious Liquid Substances), to adopt amendments by IMO resolution and update definitions and formatting.

Marine Pollution Preparedness and Response

AMSA manages Australia’s National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and Other Noxious and Hazardous Substances. The National Plan is a cooperative arrangement between the Commonwealth, State and Northern Territory Governments and the oil, chemical, exploration and shipping industries on a range of preparedness and response capabilities and activities.

During 2004-2005, there were no major ship-sourced marine pollution incidents in Australian waters. However, AMSA National Plan equipment was involved as part of contingency arrangements in response to four relatively minor shipping incidents.

National Network of Aids to Navigation

AMSA also has responsibility for providing the national network of marine aids to navigation and safety communications to meet Australia’s commitments under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS). These functions are specified in the Commonwealth Lighthouses Act 1911.

AMSA is responsible for:

Managing technical, maintenance and engineering services supporting the provision of the Commonwealth aids to navigation network;
Strategic planning to ensure the aids to navigation network is meeting navigational safety and shipping industry requirements;
Liaison with stakeholders such as the commercial shipping industry and Commonwealth and State bodies, mainly through the Navigation Services Advisory Committee; and
Liaison and participation in regional and international standard-setting organisations, such as the IMO and the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA).

The AMSA network comprises over 400 different types of aids to navigation, including lights, radar transponder beacons (racons), radar, auxiliary lights, unlit beacons, tide gauges, and Differential Global Positioning Systems and a coastal Vessel Traffic Service covering the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait region. The network includes over 50 lighthouses of historical significance. Many are located in highly remote areas of Australia requiring specialised environmental and heritage management strategies.

AMSA is accountable for the efficient and effective use of resources used for the navigational network, which are provided by the shipping industry through the Marine Navigation Levy. It is important therefore that AMSA clearly demonstrates the transparent and cost effective application of these funds.

In modernising and maintaining the existing aids to navigation network, AMSA’s environmental strategies include the application of:

Low maintenance equipment and systems;
Renewable energy power systems. Solar power supplies were first introduced in 1981 to operate remote aids to navigation. They now account for almost 80 per cent of the powered aids with the remainder using mains electricity;
Increased maintenance intervals to minimise environmental impacts and environmentally sensitive maintenance policies to remove noxious vegetation and clean-up waste on sites;
Innovative maintenance and construction techniques. As most sites are leased from State Governments, remote site designs tend to use lighter weight structures with pier or pile connections to the ground to minimises disturbance to the environment and simplify future removal tasks;
Revised maintenance and construction transport arrangements.

Environmental Management System

AMSA’s Environmental Policy is one of the primary documents that support the certified AMSA Management System to AS/NZS ISO14001:1996 international standards. The policy forms the basis upon which AMSA sets its environmental objectives and targets and outlines the principles in relation to environmental response and performance that is required of the organisation, against which subsequent actions will be measured. It is communicated at all levels and verification of understanding is assessed as part of the management system through management review and audits. The policy is reviewed periodically to ensure the objectives are being achieved and that they are in accordance with AMSA’s overall vision and strategic directions.

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November 2005