New Zealand oil spill response strategy - Maritime New Zealand

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FOREWORD The New Zealand Marine Oil Spill Response Strategy is subject to a five-year formal review process. This document – the 2006 Marine Oil Spill Response Strategy - is the third revision since it was first established in 1992. The 2006 Strategy takes into account the most recent New Zealand Marine Oil Spill Risk Assessment, completed in 2004. As a nation, New Zealand has a strong affinity with the marine environment and places great importance on the wide range of cultural, social and economic values associated with its coast. Unfortunately, the needs and the effects of modern society also put pressure on the very resources we value so highly. This Strategy forms a single, albeit vital component in the fight against all sources of marine pollution for which society increasingly has ‘zero tolerance’. For the review of the 2000 Strategy, a series of stakeholder workshops was first held in 2004. The aim was to evaluate how successfully the system was working, and seek recommendations for improvement from those responsible for the Strategy’s implementation. It was encouraging to discover that the wider response community was generally satisfied with the system, and sought only minor changes or clarifications. Of course, there have been many improvements, but these could best be described as evolutionary, rather than revolutionary. The most significant are: • A change in the format of the National Plan; • More active involvement of Maritime New Zealand in regional exercises; • Provision for the establishment of a National Response Team; • Provision for setting performance measures; • The ability to develop regional rapid deployment response resources; • Guidance for decision making concerning places of refuge; • Formal recognition of the Co-ordinated Incident Management System; • More clearly defined response escalation and de-escalation criteria; • Clearer delineation of responsibilities and jurisdictions during responses; • Incorporation of Maritime New Zealand’s security and search and rescue functions; • Commitment for relevant staff to gain experience at overseas incidents; • Confirmation of national border and biosecurity arrangements; • Definition of the relationship with the New Zealand Transport Strategy. Successful implementation of the Strategy is dependent upon effective partnerships between the maritime and oil industries, regional and national government, combined with the continued support of an increasingly aware public. Since 1992 these relationships have become firmly established, as has the support of the New Zealand public. Recent experience with significant maritime incidents such as the Jody F Millennium grounding off the Gisborne coast in 2002 demonstrated that New Zealand has an effective marine oil spill response system in place. This updated 2006 Response Strategy will ensure not only that this remains so, but also that performance continues to evolve and improve yet further. 2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY New Zealand, through Maritime New Zealand and its partners, will respond to a marine oil spill of any size. The New Zealand Marine Oil Spill Response Strategy sets the overarching framework to achieve this. New Zealand’s response capability is based on contingency planning, and is developed and maintained through partnerships between Maritime New Zealand, regional councils and unitary authorities, industry, domestic and overseas agencies. The Strategy aims to minimise the impact of oil pollution on the marine environment within New Zealand’s area of responsibility. The response system is comprised of three ‘Tiers’, each having the ability to escalate in an integrated and efficient manner to the next, depending on the scale of the event. Each Tier is required to prepare contingency plans and a response capability appropriate to their respective levels of responsibility. • Tier 1 – Industry • Tier 2 – Regional Councils and Unitary Authorities • Tier 3 – Maritime New Zealand and International Partners Maritime New Zealand maintains a domestic response capability based on the findings of successive marine oil spill risk assessments. If the scale of an incident is beyond the nation’s domestic capability, arrangements are in place to secure overseas assistance. This relationship is reciprocal, as New Zealand will be expected to assist its overseas neighbours if requested. Oil spill preparedness is funded by an industry levy, the Oil Pollution Fund, paid by those sectors whose activities pose the risk of a marine oil spill. In the event of an oil spill, the polluter is liable for all reasonable costs associated with the response. 3
Page 1: JULY 2006
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 12 and 13: The Oil Pollution Advisory Committe
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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