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AMSA is a largely self-funded government agency with the charter of enhancing efficiency in the delivery of safety and other services to the Australian maritime industry.
AMSA is responsible for the protection of Australia's marine environment from pollution caused by shipping and related activities through development and implementation of national strategies, policies and regulation including coordination of a national pollution prevention and response capability.
We are all aware of the environmental damage that may occur from spills of harmful substances at sea. Through the media we see graphic images of marine animals covered in oil and damaged and oiled beaches.
Pollutants enter the oceans from various sources creating a major threat to a valuable resource. Runoff from land, shipping operations and accidents all contribute to pollution of the oceans.
The National Plan - Australia's National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and Other Noxious and Hazardous Substances - is a national integrated Government and industry organisational framework enabling effective response to marine pollution incidents.
The effectiveness of an oil spill response depends upon a number of factors. These include the location, oil type and volume, weather conditions, and the availability of human and physical resources. No single response method will meet all the demands of an oil spill. Some methods for responding to oils spills are: |
