New Zealand oil spill response strategy - Maritime New Zealand

Appendix 3 - Key Functions and Responsibilities of Maritime
New Zealand
Function
To ensure New Zealand’s preparedness for, and ability to respond to, marine oil polluting spills (from
section 431(1)(f) of the Maritime Transport Act).
Responsibilities
The Director shall:
• Respond to a marine oil spill of any size, and monitor the progress of response activities during
an incident;
• Provide education on preventative measures;
• Collect and administer funds for marine oil pollution measures;
• Ensure adherence to responsibilities under international agreements to which New Zealand is a
contracting party;
• Implement standards and guidelines for:
o site, vessel, offshore installation, and regional marine oil spill contingency plans;
o oil spill response equipment acquisition, deployment, maintenance and operation;
o appointment of suitably qualified persons to act as national and regional OSCs;
o training of regional and national oil spill response personnel;
o site, vessel, installation, regional and national oil spill response exercises;
o oiled wildlife rescue, response and rehabilitation;
• Maintain the National Marine Oil Spill Contingency Plan;
• Maintain the ability to respond to all types and sizes of marine oil spills;
• Co-ordinate with governments and agencies overseas in respect of international support to the
National Marine Oil Spill Contingency Plan;
• Maintain a team of appropriately trained oil spill response personnel;
• Appoint suitably qualified and experienced persons to the position of NOSC;
• Approve the appointment of suitably qualified and experienced persons to the position of
regional OSC;
• Maintain a capacity to rescue and rehabilitate oiled wildlife;
• Maintain a national inventory of marine oil spill response equipment throughout New Zealand to
be available for response to regional, national and international level marine oil spills;
• Be able to provide support to a ROSC if required;
• Maintain a national database of contacts and trained personnel;
• Maintain a national database of marine oil spill incidents, collecting data in an appropriate format
from regional councils and other monitoring agencies;
• Develop a database on overseas incidents and how they are handled;
• Maintain the New Zealand Marine Oil Spill Response Strategy;
• Maintain an overview of the oil spill contingency plans, giving advice on matters relating to coordination
and economy;
• Liaise with regional councils and local industry groups to solicit their views and inform them of
Maritime New Zealand activities;
• Approve, audit and monitor regional Marine Oil Spill Contingency Plans
• Approve, audit and monitor Marine Oil Spill Contingency Plans for offshore installations located
beyond the 12-mile limit;
• Approve, audit and monitor shipboard oil spill emergency plans required under the MARPOL
convention;
• Co-ordinate and conduct training on oil pollution prevention, control and response technology;
• Chair and service OPAC;
• Liaise with government departments to ensure their full participation in the aspects of response
activities for which they have been designated;
• Liaise between regional councils;
• Research new technologies and ideas, and commission relevant research and experimentation;
• Disseminate information relating to oil pollution prevention, control and response to interested
parties;
• Monitor and enforce legislative provisions;
• Develop and implement standards for oil dispersant approval in consultation with industry and
other agencies.
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