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National Plan Equipment Maintenance, Storage and Audit Policy

Arising from Internal Audit Report 1994

Purpose

The following policy has been developed to ensure that the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) meets its obligations under the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA).

Scope

The policy is limited to National Plan equipment maintained and stored under control of AMSA.

Definitions

The following definitions relate to terms used specifically in this document.

National Plan - National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and other Noxious and Hazardous Substances.
MOSES - Marine Oil Spill Equipment System database.

Associated documents

National Marine Oil Spill Contingency Plan

Overview

AMSA shall ensure that National Plan equipment under its control is maintained in efficient working condition and available for immediate use.

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1. Maintenance

1.1 AMSA will ensure that all National Plan equipment under its control not on loan to any State/Territory Authority is maintained in accordance with the applicable service schedule, manufacturer's specifications and planned maintenance schedules.

1.2 The maintenance of National Plan equipment on loan to a State/Territory Authority is the responsibility of that authority.

1.3 An annual equipment maintenance program of work to be performed will be developed in conjunction with the preparation of the National Plan budget.

1.4 AMSA will keep records of equipment maintenance in the Marine Oil Spill Response Equipment System (MOSES) database.

1.5 AMSA will ensure that the equipment is not used by any person other than an authorised officer or their representative without prior consent and is not used for any purpose other than a purpose related to the National Plan. If AMSA consents to the equipment being used by a third party usage may be subject to the National Plan Equipment Hire Agreement.

1.6 AMSA shall ensure that National Plan floating plant under its control meets State/Territory legislative requirements and the USL code.

1.7 AMSA may discharge any of its responsibilities by:

making arrangements with, or requiring, contractors to carry out the necessary actions.

2.Storage

Other than during any temporary interstate relocation AMSA shall ensure that National Plan equipment is adequately stored and secured.

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3. Audits

3.1 An annual equipment audit program will be developed and agreed by the Manager Environment Protection Response.

3.2 The Pollution Equipment Officer within Environment Protection Response will normally conduct equipment audits. If another office conducts the audit, the Manager Environment Protection Response will ensure that the officer is appropriately qualified and experienced to conduct the audit.

3.3 Audits will be conducted to:

Verify the physical existence of AMSA assets at the listed locations (priority will be given to visiting the locations at which major holdings of equipment are held and other locations will be built into the schedule on a resource availability and risk management basis. Major holdings will be visited once every 12 months while minor holdings once every 24 months);
Assess the security and adequacy of storage and fire protection;
Assess the operational readiness of AMSA equipment. (In this respect where possible, equipment will be deployed and power plants run. In cases where this is not reasonably feasible due to the time and resources required to set up specific items for deployment and test runs, the AMSA auditor will make a judgment based on experience. In all cases, extensive visual inspection and relevant testing will be undertaken);
Check that planned maintenance is being carried out in accordance with requirements;
Ensure that OH&S requirements in respect of storage, maintenance and operation of AMSA assets/dispersants are being compiled with (includes labeling of drums, availability of MSDS, protective clothing); and
Assess capacity of storage site to respond quickly to make equipment available.

4.Reports

Audit reports will be produced following an audit and will include specific reporting on all items outlined above and will be disseminated in the following way:

A copy of the report will be addressed to the contractor responsible for maintenance/storage at the site for rectification of identified deficiencies;
A copy of the report will be forwarded to the Chair of the relevant State for information;
Manager Environment Protection Response will keep the General Manager Emergency Response Division informed of the audit findings as required;
A copy of the report will be provided to the National Plan Oil Operations Working Group for information; and
A consolidated annual report on audit findings may be provided to the AMSA Board for information.

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5. Review of Audit Findings

5.1 Three months after the audit or at the next scheduled maintenance period (whichever occurs first), AMSA will review with the relevant maintenance or storage contractor the rectification of any deficiencies identified during the audit.

5.2 If the contractor has not rectified any of the deficiencies within the three month period AMSA may seek to engage an alternate contractor to rectify the deficiencies.

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6. Records

Records will be retained in accordance with AMSA's internal records management policy.

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last updated: 31 August 2005