Published on Australian Maritime Safety Authority (https://www.amsa.gov.au)
This summary includes the major oil spills in or near Australian waters, and several smaller offshore spills that resulted in significant legal action.
Date | Vessel | Location | Oil amount |
28 November 1903 | Petriana | Port Phillip Bay, Victoria | 1,300 tonnes |
03 March 1970 | Oceanic Grandeur | Torres Strait, Queensland | 1,100 tonnes |
26 May 1974 | Sygna | Newcastle, New South Wales | 700 tonnes |
14 July 1975 | Princess Anne Marie | Offshore, Western Australia | 14,800 tonnes |
10 September 1979 | World Encouragement | Botany Bay, New South Wales | 95 tonnes |
29 October 1981 | Anro Asia | Bribie Island, Queensland | 100 tonnes |
22 January 1982 | Esso Gippsland | Port Stanvac, South Australia | unknown |
03 December 1987 | Nella Dan | Macquarie Island | 125 tonnes |
06 February 1988 | Sir Alexander Glen | Port Walcott, Western Australia | 450 tonnes |
20 May 1988 | Korean Star | Cape Cuvier, Western Australia | 600 tonnes |
28 July 1988 | Al Qurain | Portland, Victoria | 184 tonnes |
21 May 1990 | Arthur Phillip | Cape Otway, Victoria | unknown |
14 February 1991 | Sanko Harvest | Esperance, Western Australia | 700 tonnes |
21 July 1991 | Kirki | Western Australia | 17,280 tonnes |
30 August 1992 | Era | Port Bonython, South Australia | 300 tonnes |
10 July 1995 | Iron Baron | Hebe Reef, Tasmania | 325 tonnes |
28 June 1999 | Mobil Refinery | Port Stanvac, South Australia | 230 tonnes |
26 July 1999 | MV Torungen | Varanus Island, Western Australia | 25 tonnes |
03 August 1999 | Laura D’Amato | Sydney, New South Wales | 250 tonnes |
18 December 1999 | Sylvan Arrow | Wilson's Promontory, Victoria | less than 2 tonnes |
02 September 2001 | Pax Phoenix | Holbourne Island, Queensland | less than 1000 litres |
25 December 2002 | Pacific Quest | Border Island, Queensland | greater than 70 km slick |
24 January 2006 | Global Peace | Gladstone, Queensland | 25 tonnes |
11 March 2009 | Pacific Adventurer | Cape Moreton, Queensland | 270 tonnes |
21 August 2009 | Montara Wellhead oil platform | NW Australian coast | Approx 4,750 tonnes |
03 April 2010 | Shen Neng 1 | Great Keppel Island, Queensland | 4 tonnes |
09 January 2012 | MV Tycoon | Christmas Island | 102 tonnes |