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Oil Pollution Statistics

National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and other Noxious and Hazardous Substances
Annual Report 1998/99

The Oil Spill Database

Accurate statistical data required for oil spill response strategic planning provides a valuable resource to assist responding to an increasing number of queries from the media, interest groups and the general public. It also provides valuable input to Government projects such as the State of the Marine Environment Report and a measure of the effectiveness of the pollution prevention measures being progressively implemented.

AMSA uses the following definitions in maintaining the database:

‘Oil discharges’ refers to any discharges or suspected operational discharges of oil from (a) vessel(s) in excess of the permitted discharge rate under MARPOL (generally 15 parts per million oil in water).

‘Oil spills’ refers to accidental spills resulting from incidents such as groundings or collisions as well as spills during bunkering resulting from overflow of tanks, burst hoses, etc.

AMSA's OILSPILL database currently contains over 4700 records. Information is entered from the following sources:

oil discharge reports received through AMSA's Search and Rescue Centre (AusSAR), which includes reports from aircraft (Coastwatch, RAAF and civil) as well as from vessels at sea;

records of National Plan expenditure in responding to oil spills;

monthly incident reports submitted by State/NT authorities;

other sources (eg Department of Primary Industries and Energy, industry).

At least 25 per cent of the reports received by AMSA are ultimately not entered onto the database. Reasons for not entering a reported pollution sighting include where the sighting is or is strongly suspected to be one of the following:

land sourced, including tank farms, road tanker accidents, drains or road runoff after heavy rain (unless National Plan response costs are incurred); or
coral spawn or other marine algae or similar occurrence, taking into account the location of the report and the time of the year; or
discoloured water with no sheen; or
washings of coal dust from bulk carriers which have departed from a coal port; or
discharge from a sewage outfall.

Reports of maritime incidents where there is no reported pollution are not entered unless there are preventative measures taken by National Plan authority which incur costs.

While AMSA makes every effort to ensure the OILSPILL database is as complete as possible, the reliability and completeness of the data cannot be guaranteed, as only those incidents reported to AMSA can be included.

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Oil Pollution Statistics 1994/95 to 1998/99

Between 1994/95 to 1998/99 inclusive there were 1649 oil discharge sightings and oil spills reported. National Plan resources were involved in 85 of these incidents. Figure 1 shows the breakdown for each year.

Figure 1 Oil Pollution Statistics

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Oil Pollution Sources

Figure 2 indicates the types of vessels from which discharges were reported during the five year period. Where a vessel type is not identified, this generally means that a large vessel has been seen from the air and cannot be classified.

The sources of 1046 sightings during the period were not identified, although the majority are assumed to be ship-sourced.

Figure 2 - Oil Pollution Sources

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Incidents in Australian Waters 1998/99

Pipeline Spill at Port Stanvac

On the morning 28 June 1999, a discharge occurred from an offshore loading connection to the Mobil Port Stanvac Refinery. Approximately 230 tonnes of Oman crude oil was discharged 2 nautical miles offshore. The Ports Corporation of South Australia was the lead agency for the response.

The fixed wing aerial dispersant contract was activated by AMSA at the request of the South Australian authorities and Mobil. The application of the dispersant on day one of the incident was successful and resulted in a major part of the slick being dispersed. Some of the oil did impact approximately 800 metres of foreshore near Sellick’s Beach boat ramp. The impact was described as light and a manual clean up was undertaken.

Palmerston Incident

On the evening 21 August 1998 the tanker Palmerston discharged approximately 8 tonnes of lube oil into the Brisbane River whilst alongside the Maritime Wharf at Hamilton. The oil slick extended from the Hamilton Reach to the Gateway Bridge.

The Port of Brisbane Corporation was the lead agency with assistance from Queensland Transport.

The response effort and clean up operation recovered approximately 2 tonnes of oil, much of which was recovered by the oil recovery vessel Tusk. The remaining oil degraded naturally over several days. A foreshore assessment was conducted and several areas required remediation.

Queensland Transport is considering legal action.

Trinity Bay Incident

While loading at the Cairns Port Authority’s bunker facility, the Trinity Bay experienced a discharge of between 500 to 1500 litres of bunker oil in the early hours of 6 August 1998.

A clean up operation commenced using containment boom and skimmers. Dispersant was also used on the oil.

Clean up operations were completed on 6 August with an estimated 70% of the spilt oil recovered and 30% dispersed.

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last updated:
18 June 2001