Pacific Adventurer incident
Private sector claims
Private sector claims can now be made by those affected by the incident involving the Pacific Adventurer. Claims must be submitted to Bayside Shipping Services by 23 November 2009. Information about making a claim is available on the http://www.pacificadventurer.com.au/* website.
What happened?
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 Department of Environment and Resource Management, Emergency Services, and local government to clean up the affected areas.
Good progress was made in cleaning up the affected areas through the deployment of significant resources. Affects on wildlife were minimal and were managed by trained wildlife carers.
Clean up operations are now complete and the incident has transitioned to recovery. The Department of Environment and Rescource Management is responsible for the long term monitoring of the affects of the oil spill on the environment.
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 is working with the ship owners to assess a range of options. Maritime Safety Queensland has issued a Notice to Mariners advising of the underwater hazard — 284 T of 2009 (PDF**, 25KB).
An independent review of the response to the spill will be conducted under the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and Other Noxious and Hazardous Substances, and the terms of reference for the incident analysis team (PDF**, 20KB) are now available.
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**, 30KB).
The Scientific Advisory Panel has provided a final report (PDF**, 180KB), including four recommendations for the Queensland Government, to ensure the State is well prepared if a similar event occurs in the future.
EcoStrategic Consultants has undertaken two independent evaluations of the environmental effectiveness of the oil spill clean-up:
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**, 1.3MB)
Media releases
Media releases, including Ministerial statements, are available on the media releases page.
Private sector claims can now be made by those affected by the incident involving the Pacific Adventurer. Claims must be submitted to Bayside Shipping Services by 23 November 2009. Information about making a claim is available on the http://www.pacificadventurer.com.au/* website.
What happened?
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 Department of Environment and Resource Management, Emergency Services, and local government to clean up the affected areas.
Good progress was made in cleaning up the affected areas through the deployment of significant resources. Affects on wildlife were minimal and were managed by trained wildlife carers.
Clean up operations are now complete and the incident has transitioned to recovery. The Department of Environment and Rescource Management is responsible for the long term monitoring of the affects of the oil spill on the environment.
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 is working with the ship owners to assess a range of options. Maritime Safety Queensland has issued a Notice to Mariners advising of the underwater hazard — 284 T of 2009 (PDF**, 25KB).
An independent review of the response to the spill will be conducted under the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and Other Noxious and Hazardous Substances, and the terms of reference for the incident analysis team (PDF**, 20KB) are now available.
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**, 30KB).
The Scientific Advisory Panel has provided a final report (PDF**, 180KB), including four recommendations for the Queensland Government, to ensure the State is well prepared if a similar event occurs in the future.
EcoStrategic Consultants has undertaken two independent evaluations of the environmental effectiveness of the oil spill clean-up:
- Environmental effectiveness of south east Queensland oil spill response (PDF**, 1.6MB)
- Final dispersant review — south east Queensland oil spill March 09 (PDF**, 172KB)
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**, 1.3MB)
Media releases
Media releases, including Ministerial statements, are available on the media releases page.
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Last updated 09 November 2009
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