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Executive Summary

National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil
Annual Report 1996-97

Background to the National Plan

The grounding of the Oceanic Grandeur in the Torres Strait in 1970 led to the implementation of the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil (the National Plan) to ensure that Australia would be prepared to respond to ship-sourced pollution incidents.

The National Plan came into operation in October 1973 and represented primarily a combined effort by Commonwealth and State/Northern Territory (NT) Governments, with some assistance from the oil industry, to help provide a solution to the threat posed to the coastal environment by oil pollution from ships.

The original concept of the National Plan was to provide dispersant spraying equipment for deployment from small craft, such as fishing vessels; dispersant material at nine locations around the Australian coastline, and a central stockpile of ship-to-ship transfer equipment. This concept was later augmented by the Commonwealth Government's acquisition of a much wider variety of equipment and resources, placed on long term loan to State and Northern Territory authorities. A major review of the National Plan was undertaken in 1992, resulting in a refocussing of the National Plan and the integration of government and industry activities.

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National Plan Advisory Committee (NPAC)

The National Plan Advisory Committee (NPAC) provides assistance and advice to the AMSA Board in managing the National Plan. NPAC held two meetings during the reporting period in Adelaide on 26 September and Brisbane on 10-11 April.

Membership of NPAC comprises:

Association of Australian Ports and Marine Authorities Incorporated

Australian Maritime Safety Authority

Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Development

Emergency Management Australia

Commonwealth Department of Primary Industries and Energy

Environment Australia

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

Maritime Safety Authority of New Zealand

Each State and the Northern Territory

Australian Shipowners' Association

Australian Institute of Petroleum (including the Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre)

Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association

A representative of the National Plan Scientific Support Coordinator's' Advisory Group

Additional representation is sought from agencies on an ad hoc basis when there is a need to address a particular issue.

NPAC continued development of a National Maritime Chemical Spill Contingency Plan and a contingency plan for oiled wildlife cleaning and rehabilitation. These plans are expected to be finalised by NPAC during 1997/98.

The September 1996 session of NPAC adopted a minor change to cost recovery procedures under the National Plan. Primary Agencies in States/NT will now recover their costs direct from the polluter. A representative of the Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers addressed the meeting, and it was agreed that a document setting out the role of volunteers in an oil spill response would be prepared for NPAC endorsement.

The April 1997 meeting adopted an implementation program for the 37 recommendations arising from exercise "George Bass", held in Victoria in 1996. NPAC gave initial consideration to the possible adoption of the Incident Command System for the National Plan, noting that it was already being implemented in Victoria. The meeting also endorsed a number of recommendations arising from the Scientific Support Coordinators' Workshop held in Launceston in November 1996.

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Strategic Directions Meeting

National Plan Program

Following the regular NPAC meeting in Brisbane in April, a meeting was held to give NPAC members the opportunity to identify areas where the National Plan was operating effectively and where improvements could be made.

The three areas members identified as operating effectively were equipment location, the quality of operational guidance, and training. Areas identified as requiring consideration included:

effects of port privatisation on the National Plan;

foreshore clean up; use of dispersants;

working effectively with non-government organisations (NGO);

enhancing media and political awareness;

implications of second register;

Timor Sea development; and

due diligence.

The meeting also suggested some changes to NPAC arrangements, in particular the establishment of an "Operational Working Group" consisting of State/NT National Plan chairs. It was suggested this group meet the day before NPAC and address technical issues, leaving NPAC to address significant policy issues.

The next regular session of NPAC will consider ways of implementing strategic directions discussions.

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1996/97 National Plan Highlights

Finance

National Plan income totalled $3.93m, a decrease of 10% compared with 1995/96. Expenditure also decreased by 6% to $3.94m. The large decrease in incident revenue and expenditure is primarily a consequence of there being no significant oil spill responses throughout the year. The increase in revenue relating to equipment hire was due to a rise in the demand for the hire of National Plan equipment by industry for contingency plan arrangements. Accumulated surpluses at the end of the 1996/97 financial year were $2.67m, a decrease of 1% compared with 1995/96.

Equipment

The primary focus during the reporting period was on continuing the rolling program to ensure all ports have a basic set of equipment incorporating booms and skimmers as well as support equipment, so as to ensure a first strike capability. Items purchased included 1505 metres of general purpose boom, 1640 metres of shoreline protection boom and 10 small weir skimmer units. Further details of the program are at Equipment.

Oil Pollution Incidents

During the reporting year, AMSA received 348 reports of oil discharge sightings, both confirmed and unconfirmed. Twenty-four incidents required involvement by AMSA under National Plan arrangements. Over 75 per cent of reports occurred within port limits and appropriate clean-up or monitoring action was undertaken by the port authority or relevant oil terminal. Of the 348 sighting reports, 100 were identified as ship, oil rig or land-sourced. The source of the remainder could not be identified.

Training

The National Plan's comprehensive training program continued during 1996/97. Details of courses held are given at Training. AMSA also conducted two training courses on a consultancy basis. The States and the Northern Territory continued to provide a variety of training courses and the Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre (AMOSC) in Geelong maintained its training program during the period. The overall National Plan training program was successful in providing quality training to government and industry personnel required to respond to marine pollution incidents.

Dispersant Spraying Capability

AMSA, as managers of Australia's National Plan, and the Australian Institute of Petroleum (AIP), through its Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre (AMOSC), have put in place a Fixed Wing Aerial Dispersant Capability (FWADC) for the spraying of oil spill dispersant. This capability has been achieved through a three year contract with Australian Maritime Resources (AMR) based in Adelaide.

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last updated:
18 June 2001