The National Plan is operating in a low incident environment both within Australia and also worldwide. Australia’s low incident environment can be largely attributed to the rigorous Port State Control inspections undertaken by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority ensuring that only quality ships arrive in Australia.

During the reporting period, there was one major ship-sourced marine pollution incident in Australian waters, which involved activation of National Plan personnel and resources – the Global Peace spill. The National Plan was also called upon to respond to 106 minor spill incidents.

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.

During 2008-2009, there were two major shipping incidents in Australian waters – the grounding of the Atlantic Eagle at Maude Reef, off Albany, Western Australia and the Pacific Adventurer incident off south-east Queensland.

The North-East Shipping Management Plan aims to give Australians confidence in how the growth of shipping area is managed concomitant with growth in commodity flows and associated infrastructure such as ports.

The Queensland coastal passage plan (QCPP) seeks to improve pre-pilotage communications between coastal pilotage providers, the vessels they service and the pilots embarked within these vessels.

This Report on the 2012 review of the National Plan to combat pollution of the sea outlines the outcomes of the Review as agreed by the National Plan Management Committee at its meeting in July 2012.

The 2014-15 year has been a busy one, with a focus on the development and implementation of supporting policies, guidelines and advisories, in support of the 2014 published National Plan. The 2015 annual National Plan exercise, Exercise Westwind, was a great success.

This heritage management plan concerns the lighthouse and surrounding land.

Whilst there were no major pollution incidents during the 2012-13 financial year, in July 2012 we completed the removal of the wreck of the MV Tycoon from Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island. The National Plan was also called upon to support state/NT agencies in responding to several minor incidents.

An advisory to assist jurisdictions prepare for the possibility that significant numbers of the public may wish to spontaneously volunteer to assist in a maritime environmental emergency.

This heritage management plan concerns the lighthouse and surrounding land.

The 2015-16 year has been yet another busy period for National Plan stakeholders. In July 2015 an oil spill occurred 30 nautical miles from Cape Upstart, in the Whitsunday region, which affected a number of Queensland beaches.