Environment and Scientific Coordinators Toolbox | Contingency Plans and Management | Inter Governmental Agreement
Supporting Documents | General Information | Reports, Fact Sheets and Brochures | Annual Reports | Restricted Access
Introduction
Exercise "Barossa"
- Adelaide
11 June 1998
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), South Australian authorities, the oil industry and other National Plan agencies conducted Exercise "Barossa" in Adelaide on 11 June 1998. It was a combined desktop and equipment deployment exercise and was followed up by an in depth debriefing over the morning of 12 June.
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of Exercise "Barossa" was to activate and test National Plan oil spill response arrangements, both within South Australia and nationally, and to assess the effectiveness of the South Australian Oil Spill Contingency Plan.
1.2 Exercise Planning
An exercise steering committee was established to develop and conduct Exercise "Barossa". The committee comprised representatives from:
- Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Chair).
- Marine Board of Victoria (Deputy Chair).
- Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre.
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority,
- Maritime Safety Authority of New Zealand.
- Port Kembla Port Corporation.
- Queensland Transport.
1.3 Objectives
The objectives were to conduct a safe and professional exercise which:
- Tests local, State, Commonwealth and industry oil spill response procedures, contingency plans and lines of communication.
- Exercises and enhances skills of all personnel involved in Exercise "Barossa".
- Tests internal procedures of all participating agencies.
- Tests inter-agency coordination, cooperation and teamwork.
- Exercises media liaison and administrative support arrangements.
- Tests the strategic and tactical responses to the exercise scenario.
Exercises and tests the ability of environment agencies to:- provide timely and accurate scientific advice in relation to sensitive resources, protection priorities and dispersant use; and
- establish effective oiled fauna operations.
- Tests National Response Team call out procedures.
- Tests the effectiveness of Fixed Wing Aerial Dispersant Capability arrangements.
- Tests and exercises community and stakeholder liaison procedures.
1.4 Scenario
On 10 June 1998 the Master of the 61,000 DWT Tanker Southern Mist reported to AusSAR in Canberra that the vessel had suffered a major breakdown of its generator.
The vessel was on passage from the Arabian Gulf to Cape Reinga in New Zealand for orders loaded with a full cargo of Arabian light crude oil. Essential engine room services were being maintained utilising an auxiliary generator.
It was arranged for the vessel to proceed to Port Adelaide where a portable generator would be loaded onto the vessel by crane, and the vessel would then immediately proceed to sea to resume its voyage.
The pilot boarded Southern Mist at 0245 hrs (CST) Thursday 11 June and commenced entry into Port Adelaide. During the approach the vessel suffered a complete loss of power to the steering machinery which resulted in the vessel exiting the channel and going aground, subsequently impaling herself on the port anchor and puncturing No 1 port cargo tank.
The Master reported to Harbour Control that the vessel had grounded and that there was a smell of oil. Later it was confirmed that approximately 300 tonnes of Arabian light crude oil had leaked into the water. This figure increased to 500 tonnes before the leakage ceased.
1.5 Agencies Involved
A wide group of agencies were involved in the exercise, either as part of the Steering Group, or as Umpires, Observers, National Response Team Members, and government and industry representatives. A list of participating officials is attached as Appendix 1.
1.6 Responses and Comments
A great number of comments were received from Umpires and Observers and these have been summarised as outcomes together with the recommendations.