<p>Responding to marine oil spills in Victoria</p><p>The Marine Pollution Management Team The Victorian Government’s Marine Pollution Management Team is part of the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources. The team is responsible for ensuring the state is prepared to respond to marine oil spills in state waters (up to three nautical miles offshore). The team is the responsible control agency and is in charge of leading the response to oil spills, as well as storing and maintaining response equipment throughout the state. Oil spill response is supported by the Victorian Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution (VicPlan): a whole-of- government plan for dealing with marine oil spills and part of the State Emergency Response suite of sub plans.</p><p>How does an oil spill occur? Oil spills may sometimes occur naturally but are more commonly caused by incidents involving marine oil tankers, underwater pipelines or drilling rigs. Risk of marine oil spills in Victoria is associated with: • the level of shipping activity near the shoreline • shore-based activity and oil transfer • offshore oil production.</p><p>Risks for our environment Oil spills can be very harmful to marine and coastal wildlife, especially in areas of high environmental sensitivity. It is therefore critical that we are prepared to clean up oil spills quickly and effectively. In relation to sources of pollution and identified areas of environmental sensitivity, Victoria’s higher risk areas are situated near our busiest ports.</p><p>Responding to oil spills If an oil spill occurs in state waters, the size and severity of the incident is quickly assessed to determine the most appropriate action. The Marine Pollution Management Team will work together with partner agencies from both the state and Commonwealth to respond to an oil spill. A list of key support agencies can be found at the end of this brochure.</p><p>How is the oil removed? The methods used to remove oil will depend on the size of the incident, the location and other factors such as weather conditions. The effects of oil pollution can be mitigated in the following ways: • boom barriers can contain oil and stop it from spreading • skimmers can remove oil from the water surface • sorbents can absorb oil • chemical and organic agents can break down oil • sand that has come into contact with oil can be removed from the beach • wildlife such as marine birds can be cleaned and rehabilitated for recovery. All waste products are dealt with in accordance with strict environmental rules and guidelines. Oil is an organic product which can be left to weather naturally in some circumstances, where there are no environmental impacts. If a spill is beyond the resources of the state, additional resources such as trained staff and specialist equipment can be sourced through developed national arrangements. If the spill occurs outside three nautical miles from the Victorian coast, the responsibility to manage the incident rests with the Commonwealth and/or the polluter in consultation with the Marine Pollution Management Team.</p><p>Coastal Response Agencies The ports identified in the map work with the Marine Pollution Management Team to prepare for and respond to marine oil spills. Each port has a stockpile of equipment that can be used in the event of an oil spill.</p><p>How to report a marine oil spill If you witness oil on the water or oil being discharged into the water from a vessel or facility, you should report this as soon as possible by calling the relevant contact number below. You should provide the following information (if available) with your report: • your name and contact details • where and when the oil spill occurred • a description of the pollutant • the size of the area where the oil is visible • the source of the oil spill, including vessel registration numbers if known • any photographs you have. No matter the size of the oil spill, the relevant port or authority will assess each report and respond accordingly.</p><p>For more information For more information on marine oil spill response in Victoria, visit vic.gov.au/marineoilspills</p><p>Partner agencies The Marine Pollution Management Team works with the following Victorian and Commonwealth agencies: Emergency Management Victoria: emv.vic.gov.au Environment Protection Authority: epa.vic.gov.au Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning: delwp.vic.gov.au Maritime Safety Victoria: transportsafety.vic.gov.au/ maritime-safety Victorian Regional Channels Authority: regionalchannels.vic.gov.au Port of Portland: portofportland.com.au Port of Melbourne: portofmelbourne.com Patrick Ports (Western Port): asciano.com.au/patrick Gippsland Ports: gippslandports.vic.gov.au Parks Victoria: parkweb.vic.gov.au Fire Emergency Services: mfb.vic.gov.au and cfa.vic.gov.au Victoria Police: police.vic.gov.au Australian Maritime Safety Authority: amsa.gov.au</p>