National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies

The National Plan sets out national arrangements, policies and principles for responding to maritime emergencies. This is how federal, state and territory response capabilities work together.

About the National Plan

Read the National Plan and supporting documents to find out how it works in practice to coordinate federal, state and territory responders.

  • National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies

    The National Plan principles are to protect the community, environment and maritime industries,…
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  • 2023 National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies review

    The review of the National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies (the National Plan) began in…
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  • Implementation and application of the National Plan

    The National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies (the National Plan) sets out national…
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  • History of the National Plan

    On 1 October 1973, the National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies (National Plan) came…
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  • National Plan governance and management

    The National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies (National Plan) is managed under…
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  • Risk reports

    The National Plan uses a risk based approach to reduce the impact of maritime environment…
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National Plan supporting documents

Find out how the National Plan works in practice. Read related policies, guidance and advisory information.

  • Index of supporting documents for the National Plan

    An index to guide you through the supporting documents for the National Plan.
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National Plan annual reports

Read annual reports for Australia's National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies.

  • National Plan year in review—2015–2016

    The 2015-16 year has been yet another busy period for National Plan stakeholders. In July 2015 an…
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  • National Plan year in review—2014–2015

    The 2014-15 year has been a busy one, with a focus on the development and implementation of…
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  • National Plan year in review—2013–2014

    The 2013-14 year was noteworthy with the endorsement of the new National Plan for Maritime…
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  • National Plan year in review—2012–2013

    Whilst there were no major pollution incidents during the 2012-13 financial year, in July 2012 we…
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  • Report on the 2012 review of the National Plan

    This Report on the 2012 review of the National Plan to combat pollution of the sea outlines the…
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  • National Plan annual report—2011–2012

    The 2011-12 financial year was another busy period for the National Plan, with two significant…
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  • National Plan annual report—2010–2011

    After a number of extraordinary years which saw the National Plan responding to the Pacific…
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  • National Plan annual report—2009–2010

    2009-10 was an extraordinary year in the history of Australia’s National Plan. The response to the…
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  • National Plan annual report—2008–2009

    During 2008-2009, there were two major shipping incidents in Australian waters – the grounding of…
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  • National Plan annual report—2007–2008

    The National Plan has had a relatively quiet year in terms of spill response, but a rather busy…
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  • National Plan annual report—2006–2007

    During 2006-2007, there was one major shipping incident in Australian waters – the Pasha Bulker…
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  • National Plan annual report—2005–2006

    During the reporting period, there was one major ship-sourced marine pollution incident in…
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  • National Plan annual report—2004–2005

    The National Plan is operating in a low incident environment both within Australia and also…
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  • National Plan annual report—2003–2004

    This year has seen a consolidation for the National Plan. The Intergovernmental Agreement is now…
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  • National Plan annual report—2002–2003

    The year has been a period of consolidation for the National Plan.
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  • National Plan annual report—2001–2002

    No major spills of oil or other substances occurred in Australian waters during the year.
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  • Report on the 2000 review of the National Plan

    Report on the 2000 review of the National Plan to combat pollution of the sea by oil and other…
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  • National Plan annual report—2000–2001

    The National Plan remained active during 2000–2001. Although there were no major spills, the…
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National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies

The National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies (National Plan) sets out national arrangements, policies and principles for managing maritime environmental emergencies.

  • NP–POL–001: National Plan role of technical advisors

    This policy describes the roles and responsibilities of the technical advisors within the National…
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  • NP–POL–002: National Plan national response team policy

    This document sets out how the National Response Team (NRT) will be maintained, managed and…
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  • NP-GUI-009: Joint Investigations Guidance

    This Guidance outlines the recommended practice for investigating pollution incidents, including…
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  • NP-GUI-010: National Plan maritime casualty management guidance

    These guidelines provide guidance in relation to the management of a maritime
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  • NP–POL–003: National Plan incident management system

    This policy describes the National Plan Incident Management System applied by
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  • NP–POL–004: National Plan register of oil spill control agents for maritime response use

    Under the National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies, only those sp
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  • NP–POL–005: National Plan air attack supervisors and aerial observers

    This policy describes the arrangements for the provision of National air atta
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  • NP–GUI–001: Deployment of National Plan equipment

    This guidance sets out the considerations and processes to be observed when s
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  • NP-GUI-001A: Use of National Plan equipment by states and the Northern Territory

    How to hire National Plan equipment and conditions of use.
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  • NP–GUI–002: National Plan induction of the national response team

    Guidance for AMSA and/or control agencies prior to providing an induction bri
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  • NP–GUI–003: Accessing National Plan support arrangements

    All jurisdictions can both contribute to and make use of National Plan suppor
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  • NP-GUI-004: National Plan learning from pollution incidents and exercises

    Read about the general arrangements for post exercise and incident reviews.
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  • NP–GUI–005: Deployment of the National Plan response team

    The considerations and processes used to deploy National Response Team, National Response Support…
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  • NP–GUI–006: National Plan AMOSC activation

    This guidance should be observed by State or Northern Territory government co
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  • NP–GUI–007: National Plan coordination of international incidents: notification arrangements guidance

    Arrangements to apply where a maritime environmental emergency impacts upon t
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  • NP-GUI-008: National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies claims management guidelines

    These guidelines provide assistance to maritime administrations and associate
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  • NP-GUI-012: National Plan technical guidelines for preparing contingency plans for marine and coastal facilities

    Clear technical guidance to the operators of marine and coastal facilities for the preparation of…
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  • NP-GUI-013: National Plan oil spill dispersant effectiveness field test kit operational guide

    Instructions to operators on how to undertake an effective test of possible dispersants.
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  • NP-GUI-015: National Plan management and disposal of oil spill debris

    Contingency planning for oil spill debris disposal before an incident and env
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  • NP-GUI-016: National Plan maritime discharges of oil and oily water during emergency and response situations

    Discharges into the sea from a vessel of oil, oily water, decant water, or wa
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  • NP–GUI–017: National Plan activation of the fixed wing aerial dispersant capability

    Guidance for the AMSA Duty Officer responsible for either placing on standby or activating the…
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  • NP–GUI–018: National Plan national maritime places of refuge risk assessment guidance

    When dealing with vessels in distress or in need of assistance there is, at t
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  • NP-GUI-019: Conduct of National Plan exercises

    Access the Emergency Management Handbooks and Manuals.
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  • NP-GUI-020: National Plan Australian Government coordination arrangements for maritime environmental emergencies

    The Australian Government coordination arrangement for maritime environmental
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  • Obtaining approval to use an oil spill control agent at sea or on a shoreline

    Under the National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies, only those OSCAs listed on the OSCA…
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  • NP–GUI–023: National Plan coordination of cross-border incidents

    This guidance may be used where an incident impacts, or is likely to impact, upon the interests of…
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  • NP–GUI–024: National Plan demobilisation of equipment

    Guidance to be observed by officers responsible for the demobilisation of equ
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  • NP–ADV–001: National Plan volunteer management

    An advisory to assist jurisdictions prepare for the possibility that significant numbers of the…
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  • NP–GUI–025: National Plan response, assessment and termination of cleaning for oil contaminated foreshores

    Structured guidance for identifying when to stop the response to a maritime e
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  • NP-GUI-026: Aide-memoire for Marine Pollution Response

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  • NP–GUI–027: Marine oil spill response health and safety guidance

    Guidance on how to address workplace health and safety during an oil spill response, in a…
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  • NP–ADV–002: Communication plan for the National Plan

    Advice for those control agencies that have jurisdictional or legislative res
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