New Zealand oil spill response strategy - Maritime New Zealand

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The Oil Pollution Advisory Committee The Director of Maritime New Zealand (the Director) is provided with expert advice from the Oil Pollution Advisory Committee (OPAC) under the Act. The Director must consult OPAC on certain specified matters relating to oil spill response and the administration of the Oil Pollution Fund. The functions and responsibilities of the committee are detailed in Appendix 4. Strategy Review The Act requires that the Director formally review the Strategy every five years, though it may prove necessary to issue interim updates should circumstances change. Prevention Oil spill response and contingency planning is funded under the Act by the Oil Pollution Fund (OPF), a system of industry levies administered by Maritime New Zealand. The Maritime Transport Act (and the OPF) does not encompass costs associated with preventative measures unless these are directly associated with the costs of responding to a probable spill. Elsewhere, however, Maritime New Zealand and other government agencies administer and encourage a wide range of non-OPF preventative measures aimed at reducing incidents and discharges. 10
THE NEW ZEALAND MARINE OIL SPILL RESPONSE SYSTEM Three-Tiered Approach Consistent with established international practice, New Zealand has implemented a three-tiered approach to all aspects of marine oil spill preparation and response. Industry (Tier 1), regional councils (Tier 2) and Maritime New Zealand (Tier 3) all have clear roles and responsibilities provided for in the Act (detailed in Appendices 1, 2 & 3). Any agency with Tier 1, 2 or 3 responsibilities must develop and maintain both a marine oil spill contingency plan and an operational response capability. The legislative basis for this approach and much of its operational detail is set out in the Act and various supporting Marine Protection Rules. Contingency Plans Contingency plans must be produced according to standards provided in the Act, Marine Protection Rules and any guidelines issued by the Director. Each regional, site or installation plan must also be consistent with this Strategy and the National Marine Oil Spill Contingency Plan. They should also identify any delegated powers and the responsibilities of all those involved in oil spill incident response. The concept of setting performance measures is accepted and endorsed by Maritime New Zealand for contingency planning as an effective feedback mechanism. Performance measures should be developed and specified, where appropriate, in both the national and regional contingency plans. Plans should be dynamic, living documents subject to regular and continual update. Formal review is required every three years, or earlier if circumstances demand. A review must also occur after every significant oil spill incident or exercise. Above all, plans must be clear, concise, simple, easy to use and understood by the people intended to utilise them. Tier 1 A Tier 1 plan is site-specific and includes most onshore industry with oil transfer sites, offshore installations (including rigs & platforms), pipelines and certain vessels from which a spill of oil into the marine environment is possible. All Tier 1 sites and vessels are expected to be able to provide a clearly identifiable first response to pollution incidents for which they are responsible. 2 In the case of an actual or probable oil spill from a vessel, the ship’s master is responsible for notifying authorities and ensuring that containment efforts begin immediately. Depending on both the circumstances and resources/equipment available, the master may also initiate clean-up operations if safe for the personnel involved. If the spill is onshore or from an offshore installation, the company, plant or site manager is responsible for ensuring these actions are commenced without delay. After notifying the regional council or Maritime New Zealand of the spill, the person in charge must take immediate steps to control the spill following directions in the relevant approved contingency plan. If that person seeks support, or if the regional council considers that the response needed is beyond the capability of the site to provide, the Regional On-scene Commander (ROSC) will take charge and control of the response by escalating to a Tier 2. Similarly, a Tier 1 incident may be escalated directly to a Tier 3 by the National On-scene Commander (NOSC). If the spill is outside the Territorial Sea (such as an offshore installation, vessel in transit or waters around offshore islands within the EEZ), and beyond the capability of the site to respond, control of the response passes directly from the Tier 1 person in charge to a Tier 3 NOSC. 2 The Maritime Transport Act 1994 requires that ships are to have response plans where required by the marine protection rules. The rules require oil tankers exceeding 150 gross tons and all other ships exceeding 400 gross tons to have Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plans. These demarcations mirror those specified in MARPOL 73/78. As such, recreational vessels and the New Zealand Defence Force ships are equally subject to these requirements. 11
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Page 4 and 5: FOREWORD The New Zealand Marine Oil
Page 6 and 7: THE NEW ZEALAND MARINE OIL SPILL RE
Page 8 and 9: Risk Assessment National marine oil
Page 10 and 11: Spill Consequences A framework for
Page 14 and 15: All vessels that meet the criteria
Page 16 and 17: (MOSRRG) reviews Tier 1 & 2 inciden
Page 18 and 19: de-escalated. This is to ensure con
Page 20 and 21: All New Zealand marine waters are d
Page 22 and 23: Training Maritime New Zealand is re
Page 24 and 25: In all cases, the OSC must keep str
Page 26 and 27: In addition, Maritime New Zealand w
Page 28 and 29: Appendix 2 - Key Functions and Resp
Page 30 and 31: Appendix 4 - Key Functions and Resp
Page 32 and 33: Ministry for the Environment • To
Page 34 and 35: Appendix 6 - International Agreemen
Page 36 and 37: operations for the purpose of savin
Page 38 and 39: ACRONYMS AMOSC Australian Marine Oi
Page 40 and 41: Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) All m
Page 42 and 43: On-scene commander (OSC) The person

New Zealand oil spill response strategy - Maritime New Zealand

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