Pacific Adventurer incident
On 11 March 2009, a 185 metre container ship, Pacific Adventurer, lost 31 containers in heavy seas about seven nautical miles east of Cape Moreton. The fallen containers caused damage to the ship and resulted in the loss of heavy fuel oil.
Significant quantities of oil were deposited by tidal and weather conditions on the coastline south of Cape Moreton. The eight kilometre area south of Cape Moreton was the most heavily affected, and the following 17 kilometre area was also lightly oiled. North of Cape Moreton, the rocky foreshore area between the cape and North Point was lightly oiled, with some suspended as emulsified mousse.
Smaller quantities of oil also impacted the eastern beaches on Bribie Island and the Sunshine Coast from Kawana to Marcoola. In total approximately 56 kilometres of these beaches were lightly oiled with significant quantities of tar balls (weathered oil).
Oil spill response
The Queensland Government declared Moreton Island, Bribie Island and the southern area of the Sunshine Coast a disaster area on 13 March 2009. A whole-of-government response was led by Maritime Safety Queensland and included agencies such as the Department of Environment and Resource Management, emergency services, and local government to clean up the affected areas.
The clean-up response was undertaken under the terms of the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and Other Noxious and Hazardous Substances (the national plan).
Good progress was made in cleaning up the affected areas through the deployment of significant resources. The clean up involved approximately 2500 people from more than 22 agencies including federal, state and local governments, port authorities and private contractors. The clean up focused on areas that were most effected including Moreton Island, Sunshine Coast and Bribie Island. Effects on wildlife were minimal and were managed by trained wildlife carers.
As with all oil spill responses, the occupational health and safety of clean-up personnel was a high priority. Generally, special training, personal protective equipment and insurance is required for individuals to assist with oil spill clean-up activities. Each person engaged as part of the Pacific Adventurer response was issued with personal protective equipment and site inductions were conducted as per the national plan.
When did clean-up operations cease?
Maritime Safety Queensland-led clean-up operations formally concluded on 19 June 2009 after an independent consultant (Asia Pacific Applied Science Associates) declared that beaches were clean according to national plan guidelines.
From the 20 June 2009 the incident formally transitioned to the recovery phase. The Department of Environment and Resource Management is responsible for the environmental recovery and the long-term monitoring of the affects of the oil spill on the environment. The Department of Communities has responsibility for social recovery and the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation is responsible for economic recovery activities.
As is normal procedure for all oil spills, an independent review of the response to the spill was conducted under the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and Other Noxious and Hazardous Substances (national plan). The terms of reference for the incident analysis team (PDF, 19 KB) for the review are available. As a result of the review a number of changes, including the closer integration of oil spill response arrangements with Queensland's disaster management arrangements, have been implemented.
Shortly after the incident occurred an independent scientific advisory panel was set up to assess potential environmental impacts and provide advice to the Queensland Government on clean up and recovery strategies. View the terms of reference and membership for this panel (PDF, 35 KB).
The scientific advisory panel provided a final report (PDF, 187 KB) outining four recommendations for the Queensland Government to ensure the state is well prepared if a similar event occurs in the future. These recommendations have since been implemented through a revision of Queensland's marine oil spill contingency planning requirements.
EcoStrategic Consultants has undertaken two independent evaluations of the environmental effectiveness of the oil spill clean-up:
What happened to the shipping containers that were lost overboard?
The 31 containers lost overboard have been located with the assistance of the Royal Australian Navy. As the containers are located in Commonwealth waters, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority is the lead agency. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority, in conjunction with the shipowners, have decided that the 31 shipping containers will not be removed. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority have undertaken to conduct a further marine survey, at Commonwealth expense, to confirm the current location and condition of the shipping containers. Maritime Safety Queensland has issued a Notice to Mariners advising of the underwater hazard – 284 T of 2009 (PDF, 25 KB).
Private sector claims
Private sector claims could be made by those affected by the incident involving the Pacific Adventurer. Submission of claims closed on 23 November 2009.
Assessment of fertiliser discharge effects
A preliminary assessment was commissioned by the Pacific Adventurer scientific advisory panel on the potential effects the discharge of fertiliser from the Pacific Adventurer.
Preliminary assessment of the effects of the discharge of fertiliser from the Pacific Adventurer (PDF, 1.25 MB)
Review of the incident response
Given the magnitude and complexity of this oil spill, particular attention is being paid to reviewing the effectiveness of the clean-up response and Australia's and Queensland's capacity to respond to similar incidents in the future. The Honourable Premier of Queensland tabled two independent reports into the oil spill response on Wednesday 10 March 2010.
- As standard procedure for oil spills occurring in Australian waters, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority has commissioned an independent analysis team to review the oil spill. Their report considers the effectiveness of the response to the oil spill under national plan arrangements, including the Queensland Coastal Contingency Action Plan, and assesses the effectiveness and contribution of the declaration of a disaster situation to the clean-up response.
- The Department of Transport and Main Roads also engaged a consultant to capture the lessons learned from this oil spill incident. The report includes recommendations for improved integration of the disaster management system with national and state marine oil spill contingency plan requirements.
The reports are largely positive in their analysis of the response. However, as in any large incident of this nature, there are areas which have been identified for improvement to enhance future response capability. Maritime Safety Queensland and other stakeholders have taken action to implement the recommendations of the reports.
Media releases
Media releases, including Ministerial statements, are available on the media releases page.
For information on community-based environmental recovery activities associated with the Pacific Adventurer oil spill, please contact the South-east Queensland Catchments Partnership* or the Department of Environment and Resource Management.
*The content found by using this link is not created, controlled or approved by this department. No responsibility is taken for the consequences of viewing content on this site. This link will load into a new window.
