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Chair's Foreword

1995/96 was an eventful year for the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil (the National Plan) and its operations.

The year was marked by one of the largest operations ever mounted under National Plan arrangements, in response to the Iron Baron spill off Hebe Reef, Tasmania, in July 1995 involving around 325 tonnes of bunker fuel oil. A review of the response to the Iron Baron spill, conducted and completed in January 1996, served to highlight important proposals for contingency plans at a local, state and national level. A significant factor in the Iron Baron response was the clearly demonstrated and successful integration of industry and government in a major response operation.

The National Plan Advisory Committee, which held its two regular meetings in September 1995 and April 1996, also met at a special session in February to consider the recommendations arising from the review of the response to the Iron Baron spill. The 36 recommendations adopted by the Committee are being implemented.

The number of reports of sighted oil discharges, including 28 oil spills, increased from 311 in 1994/95 to 349 in 1995/96. AMSA was involved under National Plan arrangements in responding to 12 incidents, two less than the previous year.

Significant progress was made in finalising the National Fixed Wing Aerial Dispersant Spraying Capability. The first major research and development project under the National Plan was initiated with the signing of a contract to undertake a two-year research program into the use of bioremediation in oil spill cleanup. Progress was also made in the development of Coastal Resource Atlases and oil spill trajectory models.

On behalf of the National Plan Advisory Committee, I have much pleasure in submitting the Annual Report of the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil for the year ended 30 June 1996.

Michael Julian
Chair
National Plan Advisory Committee
1996

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last updated:
18 June 2001