Building capability in marine emergencies
The two year maritime emergency program is one of the Northern Territory (NT)’s national and international obligations for marine environmental protection and has a heavy focus on marine oil spill management.
On Wednesday 14 February, 19 department staff and three staff from the Fisheries division of Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade participated in a demonstration by the Oil Response Company of Australia, of a new vessel stationed in the NT by the Australian Marine Safety Authority and their warehouse of marine oil spill recovery equipment. The demonstration was an eye-opening experience for many who were not familiar with the equipment and resources we have in the NT.
The next step is to train staff in the use of the equipment so we can respond quickly should the NT experience a marine oil spill. Responders need to undertake competency-based training due to the type and scale of equipment which is required. This training has not been available in the NT which has meant we have had to rely on our nearby states to include us where they have vacancies. Last year Peter Ross (Chief Wildlife Ranger) attended the advanced level training in Fremantle, Western Australia and earlier this month, Cam Winn and Robert Risk completed the basic level training with our partners in South Australia. We have also been lucky to send staff to practical exercises in Broome and Townsville.
We are hoping with the presence of a vessel now in the NT we can hold the training here in the future giving many more the opportunity to gain the skills required to be involved in an oil spill response.
It’s not all about jumping on boats, cleaning up shorelines and oiled wildlife though. We are also building capacity in incident management. Over 30 people have so far completed the Australaisian Inter-service Incident Management System (AIIMS) Level 1 awareness training, with a further 20 expected to complete the course by the end of June. Staff have also travelled interstate to complete level 2 AIIMS training in logistics, planning and operations, with more booked to attend later in the year.
Last year department staff attended the annual Environment, Science and Technical Conference (ES&T) in Canberra and in September will host this year’s event in the Northern Territory. The week long conference will be an amazing opportunity for people to learn about everything from the use of mapping and modelling to predict where a marine oil spill is likely to impact, conducting investigations, potential effects on mangroves and wetlands and developments in use of alternative fuels. A one day oiled wildlife exercise is also on the cards which will give participants hands on experience in the rehabilitation of seabirds and other wildlife.
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