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Activities in States and the Northern Territory

Victoria

Significant Incidents

On 6 October 2004 approximately half a tonne of pollutant came ashore in scattered amounts along the beaches in the vicinity of Surfies Beach, Phillip Island. The Western Port Regional Control Agency mounted a shoreline clean up operation, which lasted for two days with clean up costs totalling approximately $64,000.

The Victorian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is investigating the incident.

On 22 March 2005 an amount of palm oil was detected in the Maribyrnong River upstream of the Port of Melbourne. The Port Phillip Regional Incident Controller initiated a clean up operation, which resulted in approximately 40 tonnes of contaminated water being removed by vac truck. The Victorian EPA investigated the spill and is yet to advise the cause of the incident. The clean up costs are expected to be in the vicinity of $36,000.

New or Updated Contingency Plans

Contingency plans for Port Phillip, Portland, Gippsland and Western Port Regions were reviewed, printed and distributed to stakeholders.

Training

During the period Marine Safety Victoria (MSV) provided 17 courses including Introduction to Oil Spill Response, Equipment Operator, Equipment Operator Refresher, Shoreline Clean up and Media Management.

Exercises

MSV conducted a desktop exercise for the Western Port Regional Coordination Committee in February 2005; a desktop exercise for the Western Port Incident Management Team in May 2005; and a one day practical exercise at Stony Point. All three exercises were designed to test the Western Port Regional Contingency Plan.

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New South Wales

Significant Incidents

There were no incidents of note in this period. Several minor incidents occurred involving sunken fishing/recreational vessels such as the grounding of a trawler south of Batemans Bay on the NSW South Coast which required the removal of approximately 1,500 litres of diesel and arrangements put in place for salvage by the owner.

New or Updated Contingency Plans

The NSW State Waters Marine Oil and Chemical Spill Contingency Plan underwent a major rewrite. It is expected that the revised plan will be issued early in 2006.

NSW Maritime and the Lord Howe Island Board discussed the future administration of the local contingency plan for Lord Howe Island, with the view to have the Plan administered by the Board.

Exercises

Port Kembla Port Corporation held its annual desktop exercise on 19 November 2004 and equipment deployment exercise on 2 December 2004.

Sydney Ports Corporation (SPC) conducted a joint equipment deployment exercise with Shell on 14 March 2005. SPC was the combat agency for Exercise James Cook which was held on 15 September 2004 in Botany Bay.

The Port of Yamba held an equipment deployment exercise on 17 March 2005. The primary aim of the exercise was to familiarise local emergency service personnel on the deployment and operation of the Tier 1 equipment held at Yamba.

Equipment Acquisition

SPC purchased an additional 500 metres of General Purpose 500, 300 metres of General Purpose 750 and 300 metres of Vikoma Hi Sprint boom. SPC also purchased a 13 tonne capacity Heila Marine Crane for deployment of marine and Emergency Response Division equipment at its Moore’s Wharf Base.

State Response Arrangements

In NSW response arrangements to all marine pollution incidents are currently provided state-wide by the three Port Corporations, Newcastle, Sydney and Port Kembla. This includes waters outside of the Ports. These arrangements are agreed and details contained in the Port Safety Operating Licence (PSOL) for each port. The PSOL details response standards, areas of response, investigation and prosecution arrangements and reporting requirements.

A major review of the PSOLs is being undertaken and new licences will be issued from 1 January 2006. The division of responsibility for responding to marine incidents are part of the review process.

Implications of Crimes at Sea Act

At the last National Plan Management Committee (NPMC) meeting, NSW and AMSA presented a paper outlining a legal view that as a result of the NSW Crimes at Sea Act 1998, the NSW marine pollution legislation, which includes provisions relating to powers of intervention and the MARPOL Convention, has a jurisdictional reach to the full 12 nautical miles (nm) limit of the Australian territorial sea. This view raises questions in several States, including NSW, about whether the responsibility for powers of intervention and application of MARPOL from 3 to 12nm belongs to the Commonwealth (AMSA) or State governments.

NPMC agreed that all States should limit the application of their MARPOL legislation to three nautical miles, and that action to achieve uniform application was needed as a matter of urgency to avoid possible legal problems.

State Prosecutions

Sydney Ports Corporation’s (SPC) prosecution of the vessel MT Frixos was dismissed in the NSW Land and Environment Court. This incident involved an alleged small spill from the vessel at Gore Cove on 30 April 2002. A major factor influencing the outcome was that there appeared to be no elimination of other potential sources. This was despite laboratory analysis reporting a 100 percent match with the vessel.

Cross examination on the analysis included an analytical “expert” from the UK on behalf of the defence, and an expert from the USA on behalf of the prosecution, in addition to John Leeder from Leeder Laboratories.

AMSA will be reviewing the case with the view to strengthen procedures both at a National and State/NT level to address any deficiencies that may be apparent as a result of this outcome.

It should also be noted that this is the first case which SPC have had dismissed, all other prosecutions in the past having been successful.

Oil Spill Response Atlas

As part of the ongoing process to update the intertidal and subtidal habitats in NSW estuaries, the NSW Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries) mapped the mangrove and seagrass habitats in the Clarence and Richmond Rivers, Lake Illawarra and Port Stevens and Karuah River using funding provided by the National Plan.

National Plan funds were also used to map the shoreline characteristics for about two thirds of the NSW coastline that was assessed by the DNV Risk Assessment as having a high and medium risk of being impacted by a marine oil spill.

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South Australia

Significant Incidents

The Mellum, a Liberian cargo vessel, went aground on a sand bank immediately after dropping off the pilot at Thevenard, Ceduna on 28 September 2004. Fortunately only the fore part of the vessel was aground. No pollution was reported as the vessel had on board 420 tonnes of heavy fuel and 25 tonnes of diesel. After several attempts using the port tug the vessel refloated on the high tide and remained at anchor while underwater hull and structural surveys were carried out.

On 13 October 2004, oil was reported to have polluted the Port Adelaide River from a vessel berthed at No 29 Wharf. The total quantity spilled was estimated to be 0.5 tonnes. Within a period of five hours, the oil was contained and the riverbank was cleaned up. The South Australian EPA are currently investigating with samples taken from a number of vessels in the vicinity.

New or Updated Contingency Plans

The National Plan Contingency Plan Review Sub Committee audited South Australia’s Contingency Plan during the period. A further review of the plan is expected to be completed by the end of 2005.

Training

During the period Transport SA conducted several Introductory Oil Spill Response training courses. These courses also included equipment deployment exercises. Transport SA also assisted Santos with an equipment deployment exercise in Port Bonython.

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Tasmania

Significant Incidents

On 4 August 2004 the Environment Division in the Department of Primary Industries Water and Environment was notified by AMSA that a Victorian fisherman had delivered a jar of what appeared to be a thick viscous material to the San Remo office of the Victorian EPA.

The fisherman had apparently collected the sample on 31 July 2004 near the Hogan Group of islands in northern Bass Strait from a spill which appeared to extend about eight nautical miles and which was comprised of clumps of about three square metres and smaller in size. Albatrosses were observed to attack the clumps and then appeared to have some difficulty in getting airborne again. AMSA advised that the Victorian EPA had handed over to them the follow-up of this matter.

Late on 10 August 2004 advice was received from the Victorian EPA through AMSA that the spilled material was lubricating oil.

On 11 August 2004 a meeting of the State Marine Pollution Committee was held and AMSA representatives in Canberra participated by teleconference. The Committee concluded that it would now be extremely difficult to determine when and from what ship the spill may have occurred due to the time delays and that no further follow-up of this incident was effectively possible. This position was supported by the findings of a team from the Nature Conservation Branch in the Department which, together with representatives from the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment and the Phillip Island Nature Park in Victoria, carried out a survey of islands in the area and had not found any sign of oiled penguins or oiled sea birds.

Legislation

Amendments to the Pollution of Waters by Oil and Noxious Substances Act 1987, to give effect inter alia to MARPOL Annex IV (Sewage), commenced on 17 December 2004.

New or Updated Contingency Plans

The revised Oiled Wildlife Response Plan for Tasmania was finalised and it is proposed to be exercised in during 2005-2006.

Training

In October 2004 and January 2005 exercises were held in Hobart and Devonport respectively, to practice the deployment of Tier 1 oil spill response equipment provided to both ports under the National Plan.

Equipment Acquisition

The State purchased 4 x 900 litre heavy duty HDPE storage bins and lids for the storage of pumps, hoses and related oil pollution response equipment for use at the State-maintained storage facility at Mornington near Hobart. This will significantly assist with ensuring proper access to the equipment at the storage facility.

Most Tier 2/3 equipment for Tasmania was moved to the regional Tier 2/3 stockpile storage facility in Bell Bay during the reporting period. The remaining Tier 2/3 equipment is stored at the State-maintained storage facility at Mornington.

National Plan Exercise 2006

Tasmania will be hosting the National Plan biennial exercise in 2006 and work is in progress in preparation for that event.

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Queensland

Significant Incidents

Whilst no significant incidents occurred in Queensland waters Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) did receive reports of 78 oil spills during the reporting period.

All incidents were effectively managed by MSQ in close cooperation with Queensland port authorities and local government agencies.

With respect to the spills that did occur:

74% of spills (58 incidents) occurred in ports or small boat harbours
64% of spills (50 incidents) were very light oils such as diesel fuel
60% of spills (49 incidents) were less than 5 litres
10% of spills (8 incidents) involved large trading ships which generally carry more persistent fuels and oils.

The largest incident was a spill of 2,000 litres of diesel fuel from a recreational ship that grounded on Marble Island, approximately 100 nautical miles south-east of Mackay, on 4 May 2005.

Recreational ship grounded on Marble Island

Most of the ship's diesel fuel spilled shortly after it grounded. However MSQ's response team successfully recovered approximately 200 litres of engine and gearbox oil from the stranded vessel.

New or Updated Contingency Plans

MSQ implemented a number of marine pollution prevention and response initiatives. Key achievements included:

Revision and distribution of Queensland's primary oil spill contingency plan - the Queensland Coastal Contingency Action Plan in January 2005
Development of new and simplified oil spill contingency plans for all of the State's 19 ports. New draft contingency plans were also developed for the Sunshine Coast Area and Port Douglas
Initiation of a program to regularly audit oil spill response capacity in all Queensland ports.

Training

MSQ continued to provide competency based training for all operational oil spill response personnel. All first-strike responders are now required to attend the Introduction to Oil Spill Response course and the Oil Spill Responder Level 3 course. In addition, response personnel who may be required to work offshore or use more complicated equipment also have to complete the new Oil Spill Responder Level 4 course.

A total of 215 people attended the Introduction to Oil Spill Response course, 139 attended the Oil Spill Responder level 3 course and 31 completed training to level 4 Oil Spill Responder level. In addition 13 MSQ regional staff completed an oil spill response “Train the Trainer” workshop.

Exercises

Oil spill response exercises were conducted by MSQ in the ports of Brisbane, Gladstone, Mourilyan and Skardon River.

Equipment Acquisition

MSQ has embarked on a project to carry out half-life refits on its fleet of five Marco oil spill response vessels. The first vessel to commence its refit was the Nautilus which was purchased in 1993. Each refit is expected to cost between $150,000 and $200,000 and will extend the life of the vessels by ten years.

MSQ also purchased new first-strike oil spill response equipment for Southport, Mooloolaba, Tin Can Bay and Urangan. Items of equipment purchased included general purpose boom, oil recovery pumps, anchor kits and recovered oil containers.

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Western Australia

Significant Incidents

On 17 July 2004 a support vessel holed a bunker tanker on the Floating Production Storage and Offloading facility (FPSO) Cossack Pioneer. The diesel continued leaking for approximately 30 minutes while the remaining fuel was transferred to another tank. After plugging the leak it was estimated approximately 5,000 litres of marine diesel was lost. This was later revised upwards to approximately 23,000 litres.

Weather conditions in the area were rough with a three metre swell. Surveillance flights the next morning revealed no evidence of pollution and no further action was required.

An oil sheen in Esperance Bay was reported to the Esperance Port Authority on 19 January 2005. The sheen extended from the harbour for about 500 metres.

Investigations found that an oil spill had occurred on the vessel Tianshenghai berthed at No 3 Berth. A small quantity of heavy fuel oil had entered port waters before the ship’s crew were able to contain the spill to the deck area.

The oil slick extended around 3,000 metres from the Tianshenghai and was mostly light and colourless with some heavier fouling at the northern end of the slick adjacent to Castletown beach. The slick had also impacted on the beach mostly in the form of tarballs.

Clean up operations commenced immediately with several tonnes of sand removed from the beach. The Esperance Port Authority were able to recover costs incurred with the clean up from the vessel.

New or Updated Contingency Plans

WestPlan, WA’s Marine Oil Pollution Contingency Plan in its current format is both an instruction manual as well as an emergency management plan. During the reporting period the plan was reviewed with the intention of splitting it into two parts – the Plan and the Manual.

Training

Since August 2003, 385 persons have been trained to the introductory level using Competency Based Training (CBT) teaching techniques. This course has been conducted at seven different locations around the State since November 2004.

Participant feedback indicates that the introductory course addresses the needs of ports, government agencies, maritime exporters and the oil industry and that predictably; the practical component is the best part. The WA Police Service is interested in oil pollution response training for its commissioned officers.

Foreshore Clean up training was conducted in Exmouth in November 2004 with 22 participants.

The inaugural Level 3 Advanced Operator Course was held in Fremantle Port in May 2005 with the assistance of Maritime Safety Queensland. Ten participants attended the course.

A North West State Response Team (NW SRT) has been set up in Dampier on the initiative of its Harbour Master. To fund this arrangement, the Dampier Port Authority has slightly increased its shipping charges. Local industries, Woodside and Hamersley, along with the Port, will provide staff for the response team. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure (DPI) will provide training assistance support to Dampier once its Environmental Protection Unit is back to full staffing levels.

Equipment Acquisitions

During the reporting period DPI has ordered 960 metres of a locally produced curtain boom suitable for use in protected waters. The lightweight boom has proved to be effective and was designed in consultation with DPI. Sixty metres of this boom will be placed in each of the regional boat harbours.

A Capital Investment Proposal has been approved to institute a rolling response equipment acquisition and replacement program for the ten years to 2014-2015. There will be around $90,000 available in each year and will supplement the first strike equipment provided on loan from DPI to the ports. Equipment will be provided to Esperance and Exmouth in 2005-2006.

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Northern Territory

Significant Incidents

There were no significant oil spills in NT waters over the 2004-2005 reporting period.

Training

During the reporting period Equipment Operator courses were conducted in Darwin and Groote Eylandt with a total of 30 personnel trained.

Administrative Changes

Gary Mayer, Director of the Marine Safety Branch within the Department of Planning and Infrastructure, retired at the end of 2004. Gary was the Chair of the NT Marine Pollution Management Committee and a member of the National Plan Management Committee.

In March 2005 the Transport Group was restructured to increase the profile and focus necessary to achieve the NT Government’s goals for transport in the Northern Territory. The Transport Safety Division, will be responsible for the coordination of marine pollution combat in NT waters. Other responsibilities will include providing a regulatory, enforcement and operational policy role in the areas of vessel survey, vessel manning, and rail, road and recreational boating safety.

Equipment Acquisition

The Northern Territory acquired no additional equipment in 2004-2005.

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last updated: May 2006