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Training

National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and other Noxious and Hazardous Substances
Annual Report 1997/98

Objectives

The objectives of the integrated National Plan oil spill response training program are:

· to provide senior management personnel likely to be involved in a major oil spill with an awareness of those issues which need to be addressed in the overall response;

· to provide sufficient trained personnel at middle management level to both manage an oil spill response and act as deputies to response managers and manage the administrative and financial aspects of a major pollution response;

· to provide a sufficient pool of trained personnel at operator level to allow effective response operations to be planned and undertaken; and

· to provide personnel with oil spill response skills at senior and middle management and operator levels to enable Australia to meet its obligations as a signatory to the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation 1990.

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The National Plan training program during 1997/98 included On Scene Coordinator courses held in Adelaide (September), Tweed Heads (November) and Fremantle (May); an Oil Spill Commanders course in Geelong (October); an Operator course in Hobart (March); Foreshore Cleanup courses in Adelaide (September), Ballina (November) and Bell Bay (December); and an Administrative Support course in Darwin (April).

The training program was extended to include a new course - the Advanced On Scene Coordinator. The first two were held in Canberra in December and June.

Course	Location	Date	Number of Participants
On Scene Coordinator	Adelaide	Sept 97	20
Foreshore Cleanup	Adelaide	Sept 97	18
Oil Spill Commander	Geelong	Oct 97	24
Foreshore Cleanup	Ballina	Nov 97	21
On Scene Coordinator	Tweed Heads	Nov 97	25
Foreshore Cleanup	Bell Bay	Dec 97	27
Advanced On Scene Coordinator	Canberra	Dec 97	12
Operator	Hobart	Mar 98	23
Administrative Support	Darwin	April 98	21
On Scene Coordinator	Fremantle	May 98	21
Advanced On Scene Coordinator	Canberra	June 98	15

The Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre (AMOSC) conducted 15 specific workshops for 306 industry personnel at both the Centre in Geelong and on site. In addition, in October BHPP and AMOSC co-sponsored workshops on Offshore Response and Volume Estimation, presented by Al Allen of the USA and attended by 30 personnel.

Course	Date	Number of Participants
Management Overview	November	7
Response	September November February May	17 10 10 14
Operators	July November	18 16

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Exercises

A significant factor in National Plan response training is exercising response arrangements. Several exercises were held during the reporting period. Queensland Transport conducted Exercise Clarence in April 1998. This exercise also included personnel from Newcastle Port Corporation and the NSW Office of Marine Administration. A chemical incident exercise, funded by AMSA, was conducted off the Port of Fremantle in June 1998. Nabalco Pty Ltd and Groote Eylandt Mining Company Ltd conducted desk top exercise during the reporting period to test the contingency plans for Gove and Milner Bay.

Exercise Barossa

The National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and other Noxious and Hazardous Substances conducts a major national exercise every two years.

During 1997/98, the National Plan’s biennial major oil spill exercise was held in South Australia on Thursday 11 June 1998. Developed around the scenario of a tanker losing approximately 500 tonnes of oil in St Vincent Gulf following a grounding, Exercise "Barossa" was designed to test a range of issues, including the South Australian Oil Spill Contingency Plan, interagency coordination and cooperation, the management and deployment of personnel and equipment resources and activation of the Fixed Wing Aerial Dispersant Capability.

The exercise identified some positive aspects as well as areas in need of further attention. The exercise was successful, well planned and managed, and the scenario was of sufficient scope to fully test the stated aims and objectives. National Response Team members integrated into the response organisation and provided professional competent advice and support. Major outcomes based on umpire and observer comment at the exercise debrief were that some improvements were needed in command, control and coordination procedures, record keeping of resources and OH&S issues, including the need for the appointment of an overall safety coordinator.

Details of specific exercises conducted by States/NT and including industry are covered in the sections later in this report on a State by State basis.

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INFOPOL 98 Seminar/Workshop

The AMSA Scientific & Environmental Adviser attended INFOPOL 98 in France during May, which included issues of oil and chemical spill response science and environmental technology. Issues addressed at the workshop included the chemical and biological aspects of marine pollution, controlling chemical/oil spills, airborne remote sensing, decision support/IT systems, spill modelling and GIS applications as well as legal issues and contingency planning.

The seminar/workshop was attended by participants from 14 nations and included visits to the naval base at Brest, Ports of Marseille, French Air Force facilities, Marseille Fire/Rescue service, CROSS the French vessel traffic, surveillance and rescue service. Organisations involved included the French R&D organisation CEDRE, and the Transport Ministry. The French Embassy in Canberra sponsored the trip to INFOPOL.

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last updated:
18 June 2001

Training

Objectives

1997/98 -Training

Exercises

Exercise Barossa

INFOPOL 98 Seminar/Workshop