Environmental Management of Ports & Shipping Impacts

NSW Maritime develops advice and policy on marine environmental matters which relate to ports and shipping in NSW. This includes advice on oil spill prosecutions; domestic ballast water management for the prevention of marine pest incursions and the implementation of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78).

Ballast Water Management

Australia is a signatory to the International Convention for International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (adopted in 2004) which seeks to prevent the migration of marine pests.

To implement the requirements of the Convention domestically in Australia, the National Marine Pest Coordination Group (NMPCG) was formed. The Group is primarily responsible for implementing a domestic system (for interstate and intrastate voyages but excluding international shipping) to manage ballast water. NMPCG comprises representatives from State/Northern Territory Governments, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS), and the ports, shipping and bulk commodities industries.

The Australian Ballast Water Unit, which is under the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, is responsible for managing the implementation of the national ballast water system and its interface with ships.

NSW Maritime is represented on the Operational Working Group of NMPCG, providing technical advice as required. In addition, in 2006 NSW Maritime formed the NSW Marine Pest Working Group to ensure key NSW Government agencies are informed of the issues being undertaken by NMPCG and provide a consistent position for NSW on ballast water issues.

For more information on ballast water management and marine pests, click here.

MARPOL 73/78

Australia is a signatory to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL 73/78). MARPOL was introduced to address pollution of the marine environment by ships from both operational and accidental causes. MARPOL comprises six Annexes addressing six classes of pollution from ships. These annexes and their dates of entry into force are provided below:

	In force Internationally	In force in Australia
Annex I: Oil	1983	1988
Annex II: Noxious Liquid Substances	1987	1988
Annex III: Harmful Substances in Packaged Form	1992	1995
Annex IV: Sewage	2003	2004
Annex V: Garbage	1988	1990
Annex VI: Air Pollution	2005	Not in force

 

Australia has adopted MARPOL Annexes I to V.

NSW Maritime is responsible for ensuring NSW legislation is compatible with MARPOL. Approval has recently been gained to amend the Marine Pollution Act 1987 to incorporate amendments to MARPOL Annexes I and II; and introduce marine pollution requirements consistent with MARPOL Annexes III, IV and V.

For further details on these amendments to Marine Pollution Act 1987, click here.