The Marlborough District Council has a statutory responsibility under the Maritime Transport Act 1994 to prepare for and respond to marine oil spills within its coastal marine area.
Oil spill response can generally be divided into a tiered structure where:
- Tier 1 represents an occasion where the spiller is known and is able to respond adequately to the spill.
- Tier 2 represents an occasion where a spill is within the Council's territorial sea boundary, is beyond the resources of the spiller (if known) and the Council is able to respond adequately and effectively to the spill.
- Tier 3 represents an occasion where a spill is outside the territorial boundary of the Council but within the 200 nautical mile EEZ; or the spill is beyond the resources of the Council and the Maritime New Zealand is requested, by the Council, to assume responsibility for the response.
The Council has prepared a comprehensive Oil Spill Contingency Plan as required by the Maritime Transport Act. The plan's objective is to safely mitigate the effects of an oil spill within the marine environment of the region and, if practicable, to assist with the restoration of an oil-damaged environment.
The plan sets out procedures to:
- Evaluate an oil spill report on receipt;
- Investigate and collect evidence (including samples of the spilled oil if possible), with the aim of establishing the identity of the spiller and recovering spill response costs from that party;
- Alert affected and interested parties;
- Activate and mobilise appropriate personnel and equipment;
- Commence clean-up operations that mitigate the effects of the spilled oil and contribute towards the restoration of the environment;
- Complete clean-up operations in an expeditious manner within the resources available.
The plan states, categorically, that the safety of human life takes precedence over every aspect of a response operation.
When a spill has been evaluated for the threat it poses to the safety of people and the environment, the necessary action is taken in accordance with the plan. This may include, but is not limited to:
- Keeping the spill under surveillance if no resources are immediately threatened;
- Putting a response operation on stand-by or alert;
- Initiating appropriate response operations.
Records show that most spills within the Marlborough district occur during fuelling operations in marina areas. In most cases these have proved minor and require little or no clean-up action. More recently a number of spills have originated from land sources that enter the marine environment via stormwater outlets. However, shipping casualties around the world in recent years illustrate the potential for large spills.
A number of personnel, specifically trained in oil spill response, can be mobilised at short notice. They practise regularly with specialised equipment and attend refresher courses to remain current with developments in oil spill response.
The Marlborough district has a variety of containment, recovery and oil dispersant equipment on permanent loan from the central stock-pile held and administered by Maritime Safety Authority. The equipment is maintained and inspected on a regular basis and is ready for immediate use.
