Ship responsible for Cape Upstart oil spill identified

Authorities investigating an oil spill in the Great Barrier Reef south of Townsville last year have identified the ship allegedly responsible and have forwarded the evidence to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

The enquiry was launched after 10-15 tonnes of oil from a spill off Cape Upstart in July 2015 was found washed up on beaches north of Townsville including Forrest Beach, on the mainland to Hinchinbrook Island and the Palm Island group.

Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports Minister, Mark Bailey said evidence painstakingly collected over 12 months had been finalised after a major joint-agency investigation.

“Investigators from Maritime Safety Queensland, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Australian Maritime Safety Authority identified 17 ships which had been in the area in the past 72 hours of where the spill occurred,” Mr Bailey said.

“The challenge was then to track down the individual ships, many of which were on international voyages, check on-board records, interview crews and take oil samples for elimination testing against samples from the spill.

“It was a difficult investigation as the ship believed to be responsible is foreign registered with a crew of foreign nationals.

“This is an extremely complex legal process involving both Australian and international maritime law and we don’t want to jeopardise the case by identifying the suspect vessel while the evidence is being fully considered.”

Minister Bailey said the estimated cost of the oil spill response was up to $1.5 million.

“The Palaszczuk Government vowed that we would relentlessly pursue anyone wilfully or negligently polluting our coastal waters, especially the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park area and this investigation demonstrates our resolve,” Mr Bailey said.

“We will ensure Queenslanders are not out of pocket for this incident and will seek full cost recovery through the Australian Maritime Safety Authority either out of the offending ship’s insurance or from a National Plan fund set aside for these occurrences.

“The next stage of the matter is to allow the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions time to review the evidence and consider proceeding to prosecution of an alleged offender.”

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef Dr Steven Miles said the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service were part of a multi-agency task force including MSQ, TMR and RoadTek which undertook the clean-up.  

“It took them two weeks to remove the oil from the island and mainland beaches between Palm Island and Hinchinbrook Island.

“Luckily, there was only a small number of animals affected by the spill. EHP treated a juvenile flatback turtle and two seabirds for oil exposure.

“Sadly, the sea birds could not be saved but the turtle was successfully rehabilitated over 6 weeks and released back into the ocean,” Dr Miles said.

Both Ministers congratulated the investigation and clean-up teams for their tireless efforts which involved multiple agencies and an astonishing amount of enquiries through collection of statements, documents and multiple oil samples.

“I would like to again thank the State and Commonwealth agencies which responded to the incident and also to the regional councils in the impacted area for their full support of the response program. It was a great example of all levels of government working together to protect our reef and our coastline,” Minister Bailey said.

Maximum fines for a corporation for a discharge offence can include $11.78 million under Queensland law and $17 million under Commonwealth law.

LINK TO PHOTOS - http://downloads.gbrmpa.gov.au/files/djnfd1hla

Media contact:         

Minister Bailey’s office - Zoe Russell 0428 079 640

Minister Miles’ office – Neil Doorley 0412 393 909