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Public Information Booklet
Vessel Management
Questions:
� How is bilge from vessels managed including invasive marine species and
how are invasive species attached to ships hulls managed?
� How and where will company empty the ballast water?
The risk and management of invasive marine species is an issue for all ports around the
world. This is an area of strong focus by both the State and Commonwealth governments
with legislation in place to manage the risk relating to the potential spread of invasive
marine species. All Precinct proponents will need to manage potential invasive marine
species in compliance with the legislation and any conditions that are set via the Strategic
Assessment and other relevant environmental approvals. This will also involve trying to
understand what invasive marine species may already exist in and around James Price
Point as well as at Broome Port and how they should be managed so they donít spread
any further/as well as measures to prevent the potential introduction of new species from
elsewhere.
There are a number of ways that invasive marine species could be introduced with the
main two being via ballast water (i.e. from the bilge) or on the hull of a vessel.
Management of ballast water is relatively well understood and is regulated by the
Australian Quarantine Inspection Service. Ships are generally required to flush their
ballast water tanks while out in the deep ocean (deep water species generally donít
survive closer to the coast and visa versa). They are then required to complete a report
and provide it to the government.
Management of invasive marine species on the hull is the current focus of regulatory
development and management practices. Australian National Biofouling Management
Guidelines have been prepared as a collaborative effort by the Australian State and
Northern Territory governments, marine industries, researchers and conservation groups.
These guidance documents were released in 2009 as part of the National System for the
Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions. The Precinct proponents would
be required to meet these requirements along with any conditions set as part of the
Strategic Assessment.
In practice, this typically means proponents will need to understand the history of where a
vessel has been, its potential for being affected by invasive marine species and where
necessary having divers inspect the vessels prior to them being used. If invasive marine
species are identified, measures may be able to be put in place to remove these prior to
the vessel being utilised. If a proponent canít be certain these issues have been dealt
with and there is a significant risk invasive marine species may be introduced from the
vessel, there may also be the option of looking for more appropriate vessels.
Question ñ How many and what type of boats/ships will there be during
construction and operations and where will the shipping lanes be located?
The number of vessel movements required during the foundation proponentís initial
construction phase has not been determined as yet and this is dependent on the
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