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Chairman's Foreword

On behalf of the National Plan Management Committee (NPMC), I have much pleasure in presenting the Annual Report of activities of the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and other Noxious and Hazardous Substances.

During 2006-2007, there was one major shipping incident in Australian waters – the Pasha Bulker grounding off Newcastle, north of Sydney. The National Plan was also called upon to respond to 82 minor spill incidents.

The Pasha Bulker incident represented a significant pollution threat, with personnel and equipment mobilised from interstate under the National Plan arrangements. Participating agencies included the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), the industry-funded Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre, Maritime Safety Queensland, Marine Safety Victoria, the Department for Planning and Infrastructure Western Australia, the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure South Australia and Maritime New Zealand. At the height of the incident there were more than 70 people assigned to assist with the response.

The response highlighted the cooperative nature of the National Plan, and in accordance with normal practice, an independent analysis will be undertaken to highlight any lessons learned and possible improvements.

During 2006-2007, the NPMC continued the development of the National Plan through support of the chemical risk assessment project, updating the Place of Refuge Risk Assessment Guidelines, implementing the new National Plan Training framework and considering the strategic direction of the Oil Spill Response Atlas.

Malcolm Irving
Chairman
National Plan Management Committee

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Updated: 20 December 2007