Major historical incidents

A summary list of major historical oil spill incidents.

This summary includes the major oil spills in or near Australian waters, and several smaller offshore spills that resulted in significant legal action.

DateVesselLocationOil amount
28 November 1903PetrianaPort Phillip Bay, Victoria1,300 tonnes
03 March 1970Oceanic GrandeurTorres Strait, Queensland1,100 tonnes
26 May 1974SygnaNewcastle, New South Wales700 tonnes
14 July 1975Princess Anne MarieOffshore, Western Australia14,800 tonnes
10 September 1979World EncouragementBotany Bay, New South Wales95 tonnes
29 October 1981Anro AsiaBribie Island, Queensland100 tonnes
22 January 1982Esso GippslandPort Stanvac, South Australiaunknown
03 December 1987Nella DanMacquarie Island125 tonnes
06 February 1988Sir Alexander GlenPort Walcott, Western Australia450 tonnes
20 May 1988Korean StarCape Cuvier, Western Australia600 tonnes
28 July 1988Al QurainPortland, Victoria184 tonnes
21 May 1990Arthur PhillipCape Otway, Victoriaunknown
14 February 1991Sanko HarvestEsperance, Western Australia700 tonnes
21 July 1991KirkiWestern Australia17,280 tonnes
30 August 1992EraPort Bonython, South Australia300 tonnes
10 July 1995Iron BaronHebe Reef, Tasmania325 tonnes
28 June 1999Mobil RefineryPort Stanvac, South Australia230 tonnes
26 July 1999MV TorungenVaranus Island, Western Australia25 tonnes
03 August 1999  Laura D’AmatoSydney, New South Wales250 tonnes
18 December 1999Sylvan ArrowWilson's Promontory, Victorialess than 2 tonnes
02 September 2001Pax PhoenixHolbourne Island, Queenslandless than 1000 litres
25 December 2002Pacific QuestBorder Island, Queenslandgreater than 70 km slick
24 January 2006Global PeaceGladstone, Queensland25 tonnes
11 March 2009Pacific AdventurerCape Moreton, Queensland270 tonnes
21 August 2009Montara Wellhead oil platformNW Australian coastApprox 4,750 tonnes
03 April 2010Shen Neng 1Great Keppel Island, Queensland4 tonnes
09 January 2012MV TycoonChristmas Island102 tonnes
Last updated: 9 November 2020

I am a...