New Zealand oil spill response strategy - Maritime New Zealand

GLOSSARY OF TERMS
(the) Act
The Maritime Transport Act 1994.
Baseline of the territorial sea
Is the low water mark along the coast of New Zealand, including the coast of all islands, except where,
in the case of the sea adjacent to a bay, the baseline will be a straight line or series of straight lines
across the bay, where the entrance to that bay exceeds 24 nautical miles (refer to sections 5 and 6 of
the Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone and Exclusive Economic Zone Act 1977).
Bioremediation
The process of using living organisms to break down the molecular structure of oil into less complex
substances that are not hazardous or regulated. This is often undertaken by introducing large
numbers of hydrocarbon-eating microbes to a contaminated site. Nutrients are often added to speed
up the organisms’ digestion of the oil, and reproduction.
Chemical dispersant
A chemical formulation containing non-ionic surface active agents that lower the surface tension
between oil and water, and enable oil film to break up more easily and disperse within the water with
natural or mechanical agitation.
Clean-up
See Oil Spill Response.
Continental shelf
The sea bed and subsoil of those submarine areas that extend beyond the territorial limits of New
Zealand, throughout the natural prolongation of the landed territory of New Zealand, to the outer edge
of the continental margin, or to a distance of 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the
breadth of the territorial sea is measured (as described in sections 5, 6 and 6A of the Territorial Sea,
Contiguous Zone and Exclusive Economic Zone Act 1977) where the outer edge of the continental
margin does not extend to that distance.
Continental waters
See New Zealand continental waters.
Contingency Plan
A plan for action prepared in anticipation of an incident. In this case the contingency is for an oil spill
incident. The contingency plan prepared for a site or region usually consists of guidelines and
operating instructions intended to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of clean-up operations and
to protect areas of biological, social and economic importance.
(the) Director
The Director of Maritime New Zealand.
Discharge Management Plan
Developed by owners/operators of offshore installations as a requirement of Marine Protection Rules.
It is a form of environmental management plan that applies specifically to the control and management
of discharges of harmful substances (including oil) from offshore installations to the marine
environment. This includes emergency response procedures, which are the equivalent of a site Marine
Oil Spill Contingency Plan for the purposes of Part 23 of the Act.
Domestic and External Security Secretariat (DESS)
A formal responsibility of the New Zealand Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Duty Manager
A rostered staff position within Maritime New Zealand offering 24hr contact for maritime incidents and
emergencies. Note: the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand also has a separate Duty Manager,
to whom initial oil spill reports to Maritime New Zealand should be made.
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