Overview

Fremantle Ports is well equipped and prepared to respond to any oil spills that occur within or in the vicinity of Fremantle Port waters. Fremantle Ports maintains oil response equipment and has fully trained staff available at all times. A review of Western Australian marine pollution response arrangements conducted by consultants for the Department of Transport in 1999 described Fremantle Ports as the best-resourced organisation in WA to deal with a major marine incident.

Impacts Of Oil On The Marine Environment

There are many types of oil. Unrefined or crude oil is a mixture of light and heavy hydrocarbons and other substances. It can be fluid to semi-solid in consistency. Refined oils such as diesel and fuel oil are derived from crude oil.

Impacts from oil pollution vary, depending on the amount and type of oil discharged. Lighter and more refined oil typically disappears quickly from the water column. Heavier oils may sink and persist in the marine environment in sediments and beach sand.

Oil can harm the marine environment by smothering marine life. It can also bio-accumulate in organisms and thus affect organisms higher in the food chain. Sea animals and birds can be harmed when their feathers or fur are coated with oil. Chemical contaminants within the oil can also impair reproduction for sea animals and birds.

Frequency and Types of Oil Spills from Shipping Operations

Oil spills may result from vessel collisions, groundings, during cargo transfer, or bunker (fuel oil) transfer.

Data from Australian marine oil spills indicate that approximately 30 per cent of incidents occur at sea, and the remainder in ports. During the period 1982 1998, there were 27 oil spills greater than 10 tonnes in Australian waters, 6 of which were in Western Australian waters. None of these was in Fremantle Port waters.

It is estimated that the maritime industry is a relatively small contributor to overall marine pollution, responsible for 12 per cent of the total marine pollution (The Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution, 1990).

Legislation Mechanisms for provision of Oil Spill Response Capability

Oil spill response capability is legislated at national, state and local levels. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) administers the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and other Noxious and Hazardous Substances (the National Plan). AMSA is the agency responsible for response to oil spills and other marine pollution in Commonwealth waters.

WestPlan Marine Oil Pollution (WestPlan MOP) applies to all spills of oil in WA state waters, within ports and on shorelines. WestPlan MOP has been prepared in accordance with the Pollution by Waters by Oil and Noxious Substances Act 1987. This Act implements MARPOL 73/78 (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978) and details the liabilities and penalties for discharges from ships and enables WA to take measures to respond to spills.

WestPlan MOP operates within the National Plan. Various organisations have roles under the WestPlan Marine Oil Plan. These include WA Department of Planning and Infrastructure, AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority), MPR (Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources), DEP (Department of Environmental Protection), FESA (Fire and Emergency Services Authority), CALM (Conservation and Land Management), Fisheries WA and other Port Authorities.

Fremantle Ports is required by legislation to have an oil spill response capability. Two sets of Western Australian legislation make provision for oil spill response within ports. The Pollution of Waters by Oil and Noxious Substances Act 1987 requires Port Authorities to ensure adequate response capability is available in port waters. The Port Authorities Act 1999 requires Fremantle Ports to implement a Marine Safety Plan. As part of its integrated approach in dealing with safety and environment, Fremantle Ports has developed a Marine Safety and Environment Plan. This Plan includes emergency preparedness and the Ports Emergency Response Plan.

Fremantle Ports has in place partnering agreements with Fire and Emergency Services, Australian Police, Australian Quarantine Inspection Service and Australian Customs. These agreements outline the assistance to be provided by external groups and help to ensure that all parties understand their roles and responsibilities.

Fremantle Ports Emergency Response Plan interacts with national, state and local emergency plans. The procedures within the Emergency Response Plan include a decision point regarding the initiation of the State and National Oil Spill plans. Spills of less than 10 tonnes would be managed at a local level, those up to 100 tonnes would involve regional and perhaps interstate response, and any greater than 1,000 tonnes would involve national / international response.

Outline of Fremantle Ports' Emergency Response Plan

Fremantle Ports is prepared to respond to any emergencies within Fremantle Port Waters. The objective of Fremantle Ports Emergency Response Plan (ERP) is to minimise the impact of incidents which are potentially harmful to people, property or the environment. The ERP specifically addresses the preparedness, response capability and recovery plans for potential incidents within or impacting on the Port of Fremantle.

Whilst Fremantle Ports has excellent engineering controls and a safety management system to ensure ongoing safe operation of the Port, it recognises that emergencies can occur and has developed a comprehensive ERP to minimise the impact of any emergencies. Fremantle Ports also maintains fully trained responders.

Fremantle Ports Emergency Response Plan covers:

Oil/ Chemical Spills
Inner and Outer Harbour hazardous materials incidents
Emergencies at sea
General Emergencies. For example, fire, medical emergencies, natural disasters, bomb threats, road transport incidents and civil disturbances.

The Harbour Master has the overall responsibility for the Emergency Response Plan, and the Manager Port Safety and Environment is responsible for ensuring the Plan is maintained and kept up to date.

Oil Spill Response Equipment and Maintenance

Fremantle Ports maintains equipment for local use at the Port, and is also a custodian of a stockpile of equipment for use under the National Oil Spill Plan in case of a major spill within State waters. Equipment includes dispersant, pumps, tanks for holding recovered oil, skimmers, booms, spray buckets suitable for use by helicopters. Communication equipment and trailers are also maintained.

Fremantle Ports has in place a preventative maintenance program for emergency response equipment. This program ensures this equipment is in good condition and ready for use at all times. National Oil Spill Plan equipment is routinely inspected by AMSA.

Fremantle Ports emergency vessel, the FP Response, is a key part of its emergency response capability. The vessel is 25 metres long and has a top speed of 25 knots. It has fire fighting and pollution control equipment, as well as a selfprotection system for crews. The vessel also has a hydraulic crane so that other emergency equipment maintained on land can be placed on board in response to an emergency situation.

The People, The Training and Exercise Programs

Fremantle Ports has a core group trained and available to respond in port waters and elsewhere in the State. The staff is organised into 4 teams of 8 people, plus reliefs. All Team Leaders are trained to Incident Control Level and Team Members are trained to Equipment Operator Level.

Regular exercises are undertaken, involving Port personnel, external agencies and organisations, tenants and local industry. These exercises are used to test the effectiveness of the Plan, to obtain feedback on outcomes and to highlight possible improvements.

Summary

Marine oil spill response capability is held at a local, state and national level. Whilst oil spills are infrequent, Fremantle Ports is well prepared to respond to any oil spills that occur within or in the vicinity of port waters. Continued preparedness is ensured through training, maintenance of equipment and oil spill response exercises.

Suggested References

http://www.imo.org/
Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (1996). Working Together to Reduce Impacts from Shipping Operations: ANZECC Strategy to Protect the Marine Environment. Volumes 1-3.
International Maritime Organisation (1997) MARPOL 73/78

Fremantle Ports contact details:

Tel: (08) 9430 3555 Fax: (08) 9336 1391
Email: mail@fremantleports.com.au
Internet: http://www.fremantleports.com.au/

MAY 2002