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Activities in States and the Northern Territory

Victoria

Significant Incidents

Victoria experienced no significant incidents during the reporting period.

However, a milestone achievement was the prosecution of the ANL Pioneer’s owner and master for a spill that impacted Phillip Island and the Kilcunda area in 2003. On 20 December the Melbourne Magistrates Court awarded penalties and costs amounting to more than $1 million against the owner of the ANL Pioneer and the master for deliberately discharging 30 to 40 tonnes of waste oil sludge from the ship’s ballast tanks about nine miles off Phillip Island while on-route to Sydney.

New Or Updated Contingency Plans

The Victorian Marine Pollution Contingency Plan was reviewed and updated for machinery of government changes.

Training

During the reporting period, Marine Safety Victoria (MSV) delivered four Introduction to Oil Spill Response courses, three Equipment Operator courses, two Shoreline Assessment and Clean up courses and one AIIMS/OSRICS course. MSV also delivered four one-day Equipment Operator Refresher exercises and one Shoreline Clean up refresher exercise.

The Finance and Administration Course was reviewed and rewritten by a consultant and a pilot course delivered.

Personnel from various Victorian agencies were sponsored by MSV to attend several national courses including two Oil Spill Management Courses and the Chemical Spill Response Course.

Exercises

MSV facilitated several regional desktop exercises as part of its ongoing assessment of regional contingency plans. In June, Shell Refinery Corio conducted a one-day marine pollution response exercise assisted by AMOSC, MSV and other port agencies.

Equipment acquisition

A specialist boom trailer was acquired for Station Pier in Melbourne. MSV’s marine pollution response vessel Vagabond underwent a half life refit during the first half of 2006. As well as refurbishment of the vessel’s hull and superstructure, the refit included the provision of new engines, on-board toilet facility, refrigerator and a navigation suite consisting of radar, GPS, electronic chart display and depth sounder.

Administrative changes in the State response arrangements

In May 2006, Mark Hughes resigned as General Manager Safety & Environmental Services to take up a role with the naval architecture firm, Gibbs & Cox.

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New South Wales

Significant Incidents

There have been no significant incidents in NSW during the reporting period.

New or Updated Contingency Plans

The NSW State Waters Marine Oil and Chemical Spill Contingency Plan has undergone a major rewrite and approved by the State Emergency Management Committee.

Exercises

Newcastle Port Corporation carried out an equipment deployment exercise on 7 February 2006 and Incident Control Centre exercise on 5 May 2006.

Sydney Ports Corporation conducted joint equipment deployment exercise with shell on the 19 May 2006 and held two exercises with Caltex on 10 October 2005 and 21 November 2005.

Port Kembla Port Corporation held its annual equipment deployment exercise on 29 November 2005.

NSW Maritime held the following exercises:

Port of Eden annual equipment deployment exercise on 18 February 2006
NSW National Plan Executive Committee desktop exercise on 14 March 2006
Lord Howe Island training and equipment exercise on 30 May 2006.

Equipment Acquisition

Sydney Ports Corporation purchased 500 metres of fence boom to replace old boom.

State Response Arrangements

A major review of the Port Safety Operating Licences for the three port corporations is being undertaken and as from 1 January 2007 NSW Maritime will take on a Combat Agency role for NSW State waters north of Port Stephens to the Queensland border and South of Gerroa to the Victorian border.

State Prosecutions

Sydney Ports Corporation had three prosecutions resolved and initiated two new prosecutions.

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 Hastings River, Camden Haven, Manning River, Clyde River, Moruya River and numerous small coastal rivers and lagoons using funding provided by the National Plan. This concludes the updating of the NSW intertidal and subtidal data.

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South Australia

Significant Incidents

Whilst no significant incidents occurred in South Australia, the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (DTEI) did receive reports of several minor spills during the reporting period, which were successfully monitored and cleaned up.

New or Updated Contingency Plans

DTEI has updated the South Australian Marine Contingency Action Plan, which was forwarded to AMSA for review by the sub-committee.

DTEI will update the plan with suggested amendments with the view of having the plan completed by October 2006.

Training

DTEI carried out oil response training in Wallaroo, Thevenard, Port Lincoln including a three-day advanced course in Adelaide. Leeder Consulting conducted three one-day courses in Adelaide on oil sampling. Three half-day workshops were carried out on the use of AIMS software. A deployment exercise was conducted in Port Lincoln (Tier one upgraded to tier two.)

Equipment

DTEI have re-located the entire oil spill response equipment from Glanville Dockyard to Shed No.17 in Port Adelaide Docks.

AMSA have handed over the vessel Murex to the Marine Oil response section in DTEI.

Wildlife Response Plans

A draft of the response plan prepared by the South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage has been prepared and submitted to their Director for approval.

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Tasmania

Significant Incidents

On 30 May 2006 Ocean Fresh Fisheries Pty Ltd was fined $9600 in the Hobart Magistrates Court for discharging fuel oil from a ship into State waters contrary to the provisions of the Pollution of Waters by Oil and Noxious Substances Act 1987.

The offence occurred on 28 July 2005 when between 20 and 120 litres of fuel oil were lost into Sullivans Cove at Hobart during refuelling of the vessel Petersen.

Costs of $2095 were also awarded to the Crown for the costs incurred in responding to and cleaning up after the incident.

New Or Updated Contingency Plans

Work commenced to update the Tasmanian Marine Oil Pollution Contingency Plan. This will be informed by the report on the national Exercise.

Training

With assistance provided by AMSA, the following training courses were held in Tasmania:

19-20 June 2006 – Equipment operators course Hobart;
21 June 2006 – Aerial dispersant application course George Town; and
22-23 June 2006 – Equipment operators course Bell Bay.

Exercises

Exercise Arion, a desk top exercise was held on 28 February 2006 in Hobart.

Equipment Acquisition

The State has not purchased any response equipment during the period.

National Plan Exercise 2006

Planning for the National Plan Biennial exercise continued during the reporting period.

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Queensland

Significant Incidents

On 24 January 2006 a collision between the tug Tom Tough and the bulk coal carrier Global Peace released 25 tonnes of heavy fuel oil into the waters of Gladstone Harbour.

Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) coordinated the multi-agency response which included members of the National Response Team from Brisbane, Sydney, Newcastle and Darwin. Representatives from the Australian Marine Oil Sill Centre and the Oil Response Company of Australia also provided valuable expertise and assistance.

The multi-agency team was successful in limiting environmental damage associated with the spill and recovered eight tonnes of oil and 61cubic metres of oily debris over eight days.

A 1000 litre spill of heavy fuel oil from the bunker barge Larcom in Gladstone on 16 January tested response arrangements. The spill happened after fuel oil leaked into a ballast tank and was pumped overboard. The crew of Larcom, Central Queensland Port Authority and MSQ responded to the incident and deployed booms to contain the spill. MSQ’s oil recovery vessel Rapa was used to recover the oil.

Throughout the year MSQ received reports of 62 oil spills. Most (80%) were less than 5 litres and 60 % were either diesel fuel or sheen. A large proportion (59%) of spills occurred in within ports whilst 39% occurred outside of ports but within Queensland Coastal waters. The remaining 2% of reported spills were outside of Queensland coastal waters but within Australia’s territorial sea and adjacent to Queensland.

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

In March 2006 MSQ also provided assistance to AMSA with the response to the derelict oil tanker in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

New Or Updated Contingency Plans

The Queensland Coastal Contingency Action Plan (QCCAP) was reviewed by MSQ and the National Plan Oil Operations Working Group. It was also expanded to include first-strike oil spill response plans for all Queensland ports and the Queensland/New South Wales border region. Queensland’s oiled wildlife response plan was also updated by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and has been included in QCCAP.

Training

MSQ continued to provide competency based training for all operational oil spill responders. To date 334 people have successfully completed the Level 3 Oil Spill Responder course being delivered by MSQ.

The learning needs of administration and logistics personnel were also catered for by development of a new oil spill administration and logistics support training course by MSQ.

Exercises

Oil spill response exercises were conducted by MSQ in the ports of Bundaberg, Mackay, Thursday Island and Skardon River.

A major exercise to test Australia’s maritime place of refuge risk assessment guidelines was held in Brisbane on 14 December 2005. A comprehensive report on the exercise was distributed to national plan stakeholders in April 2006.

Equipment Acquisition

New oil spill response equipment, including general purpose boom, oil recovery pumps, skimmers, portable storage containers and boom anchors, was purchased by the Queensland government for boat harbours at Urangan, Bowen and Port Douglas.

A five-year program of half-life refits on MSQ's oil recovery vessels continued with work on the Cassis completed in December 2005.

Administrative changes in the State response arrangements

The administrative arrangements for management of oil spills in Queensland remain unchanged. However Queensland’s Transport Operations (Marine Pollution) Act 1995 was amended to formalise the position of Marine Pollution Controller.

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Western Australia

Significant Incidents

On 2 December 2005 approximately 500 litres of bunker fuel leaked into Fremantle Port Authority Inner Harbour from a fuel supply line. Most of the oil was removed in first three days with approximately another four days clean up of infrastructure within the port.

On 25 April 2006 a vessel that had caught fire and sunk off Rottnest Island was towed to the boat lifter in Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour and lifted from the water. Containment booms were deployed to contain diesel and engine oil that leaked from the vessel as it was retrieved from the water.

On 25 June 2006 about 400 litres of engine oil was discharged from a fishing vessel after a mechanical malfunction, which resulted in the oil collecting in the vessel’s bilge tanks and being automatically pumped overboard. Clean up of oil lasted three days and a further two days was required for equipment cleaning (skimmer and booms).

New Or Updated Contingency Plans

The offshore oil and gas facility Oil Spill Contingency Plans that were reviewed by the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s Marine Environment Protection Unit (MEPU) over the last year were:

TAP Oil Limited – OSCP for Amulet –1 Drilling Operations;
ROC Oil (WA) Pty Ltd – OSCP for Cliff Head Oil Field Operation;
Apache Energy – North West Shelf OSCP (Operations); and
Woodside IRP3250 – DRIMS 2492164 – Carnarvon Basin ONHSSCP Rev 2.

Assistance was also provided to Dampier Port Authority, Albany Port Authority and Bunbury Port Authority in the review and update of their Oil Spill Contingency Plans.

The WestPlan Marine Oil Pollution was updated and submitted to the State Emergency Management Committee and the Wildlife Response Plan is also in review.

Training

During 2006 the Metro State Response Team has convened on a monthly basis to undertake a day of training. Over 50 members are registered on the team; average attendance at monthly training sessions is ten.

Training delivered by the unit in the last ten months:

1 x two-day Introductory Oil Spill Response Workshop in Perth;
2 x one-day Operator Workshops in Onslow;
1 x three-day Operator level Workshop in Port Hedland;
1 x two-day Operator level (theory component) Workshop in Dampier; and
1 x one-day Admin and Finance Workshop in Dampier.

Participants included representatives from DPI, port authorities, police, FESA, oil and shipping industries along with their support industries. The training’s primary aims are to offer relevant training to differing needs around WA to effectively build response capacity around the state.

Training coordinated by the unit but delivered by other organisations includes:

A two-day introductory Oil Spill Response Workshop in Perth.
A one-day oil Sampling Training Workshop in Perth.

A three-day Operator Workshop in Exmouth was delivered in 2005 by the Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre and the Oil Response Company of Australia has been delivering additional training to port authorities at their request.

Equipment Acquisitions

Due to its significance, Exmouth has received an additional set of foreshore cleaning equipment for 30 personnel, provided by DPI as a supplement to industry’s equipment stockpile.
Further, a dispersant spray system, usable both from a helicopter and a vessel has been developed and built in cooperation between Polyline Industries and DPI. This system is designated to reinforce the oil spill response capacity at the North West Shelf.

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Northern Territory

Significant Incidents

There were no significant oil spills in Northern Territory waters over the 2005-2006 reporting period.

Training

Three oil spill training courses were conducted in 2005-06. These were all held in Darwin and included:

Twenty three government and industry representatives attended equipment operator training in August 2005. The training simulated oil spill 10 000 litres of heavy oil spill with 75kg of oranges.
Eleven government and industry representatives from the NT attended AMSA’s National Oil Spill Management Course that was held in Darwin in May 2006.
Seventeen government representatives attended fixed wing aerial dispersant training held in Darwin and Humpty Doo in June 2006.

Equipment Acquisition

No additional equipment was acquired by the Northern Territory in 2005-2006.

Administrative Changes

The newly formed Transport Safety Division provides regulatory services for rail, marine and road safety. In this capacity the Director Transport Safety is the Deputy NT Spill Commander. The Executive Director Transport Division remains the NT Spill Commander, Chair of the NT Marine Pollution Management Committee and a member of the National Plan Management Committee. The Senior Nautical Officer remains the NT Marine Pollution Co-ordinator.

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last updated: July 2007