The National Plan recognises that the starting point for reducing the impacts of maritime environmental emergencies lies in the understanding of specific hazards and the social, environmental, cultural, heritage, infrastructure and economic vulnerabilities presented by these events. The National Plan is underpinned by formal risk assessment at the Commonwealth, state and Northern Territory, regional, and local scale.

Using a risk based approach means that the National Plan can implement the ‘polluter pays principles’ under which preparedness is funded by potential polluters. This means that for shipping, a levy applies to commercial shipping visiting Australian ports, and for the offshore petroleum sector, operators fund arrangements to meet their specific risks.

The risk assessments also assist us and the jurisdictions to determine the appropriate locations for, and levels of, National Plan emergency towage capability and spill response equipment.

2004 report by Det Norske Veritas

We commissioned this report jointly with the Department of Transport and Regional Services to inform the work of the Australian Maritime Group’s working party on emergency towage and salvage capacity. The report contributed to the development of the government’s response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Transport and Regional Services’ report of June 2004 Ship salvage: inquiry into maritime salvage in Australian waters.

• Report—Emergency towing and salvage capabilities
• Appendix A—Towage and salvage vessel data
• Appendix B—Stakeholder input from questionnaires
• Appendix C—Emergency resources coverage maps

2011 report by Det Norske Veritas

The 2011 report by Det Norske Veritas: Assessment of the risk of pollution from marine oil spills in Australian ports and waters.