Exercise Van Diemen was conducted under the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and Other Noxious and Hazardous Substances in Tasmania with an oil spill scenario situated in the Mersey River in Devonport. The objectives set for the exercise created the opportunity for numerous Tasmanian as well as interstate agencies and organisations to become involved, thereby testing selected aspects of their respective oil spill contingency plans and sub-plans. A full list of participating agencies is provided.