Reporting Ship Sourced Pollution
Educational resources and information
- Oceanic Grandeur
- Nella Dan
- Korean Star
- Al Qurain
- Arthur Phillip
- Sanko Harvest
- Kirki
- Era
- Iron Baron
- Mobil Refinery
- Laura DAmato
Major Oil Spills in Australia
Australia has been fortunate not to have experienced a catastrophic oil spill from a ship. A number of significant oil spills have occurred however, and these are listed below.
A brief summary on each spill is provided below.
| Date | Vessel | Location | Oil amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03/03/1970 | Oceanic Grandeur | Torres Strait | 1,100 tonnes |
| 03/12/1987 | Nella Dan | Macquarie Island | 125 tonnes |
| 20/05/1988 | Korean Star | Cape Cuvier WA | 600 tonnes |
| 28/07/1988 | Al Qurain | Portland VIC | 184 tonnes |
| 21/05/1990 | Arthur Phillip | Cape Otway VIC | unknown |
| 14/02/1991 | Sanko Harvest | Esperance WA | 700 tonnes |
| 21/07/1991 | Kirki | WA | 17,280 tonnes |
| 30/08/1992 | Era | Port Bonython SA | 300 tonnes |
| 10/07/1995 | Iron Baron | Hebe Reef TAS | 325 tonnes |
| 28/06/1999 | Mobil Refinery | Port Stanvac SA | 230 tonnes |
| 03/08/1999 | Laura D’Amato | Sydney NSW | 250 tonnes |
Brief information on spills
Oceanic Grandeur - Torres Strait, March 1970
On 3 March 1970, the Liberian-flagged tanker Oceanic Grandeur struck an uncharted rock in Torres Strait while en-route from Dumai, Indonesia, to Brisbane. The Oceanic Grandeur was carrying approximately 55,000 tonnes of Sumatran crude oil. Eight of the 15 oil cargo tanks were ruptured and oil was spilt upon impact. The oil spill from the Oceanic Grandeur provided the major catalyst for the inception of the Australia's National Plan to Combat the Pollution of the Sea from Oil and other Noxious and Hazardous Substances.
Nella Dan - Macquarie Island, December 1987
The Nella Dan was anchored in Buckles Bay close to the Australian base on Macquarie Island when strong winds pushed the vessel aground on 3 December 1987.
Korean Star - Western Australia, May 1988
A major incident in Western Australia occurred when the bulk carrier Korean Star grounded in the vicinity of Cape Cuvier, within the port limits of Carnarvon. The vessel went aground on 20 May 1988 as a result of cyclonic weather conditions, which caused it to drag its anchor. The Korean Star was declared a constructive total loss after it broke in two following the grounding. About 600 tonnes of fuel oil were lost from the vessel.
Al Qurain - Victoria, July 1988
On 28 July 1988, the livestock carrier Al Qurain struck a wharf heavily while berthing in Portland, Victoria, and severely ruptured a side fuel tank. An estimated 184 tonnes of fuel oil escaped into Portland Harbour. Clean-up operations were successful in recovering virtually all the oil other than a residue coating wharf piles.
Arthur Phillip - Victoria, May 1990
On 21 May 1990, an extensive oil slick was sighted approximately 4-5 nautical miles South East of Cape Otway, Victoria, by the pilot of a light aircraft. On 23 May 1990 first reports were received of oil coming ashore and of dead or oiled penguins. The spill ultimately killed or seriously affected over 200 fairy penguins. While some beach clean-up was carried out following this incident, the major costs were incurred in monitoring the spill and cleaning and care of wildlife.
Investigations into the source of the spill were initiated and the Australian registered oil tanker Arthur Phillip was found to be responsible for the spill. The owners and the master were prosecuted and fined.
Sanko Harvest - Western Australia, February 1991
The Sanko Harvest struck a reef off Esperance, Western Australia on 14 February 1991. The vessel was initially considered salvageable, however further damage caused by the reef rendered the vessel beyond salvage. The ship broke up over the next two weeks and released its cargo of 30,000 tonnes of soluble fertiliser and bunkers of some 700 tonnes (mainly heavy fuel oil). The majority of the fuel brought up on the beaches of Cape Le Grand National Park. Action to limit pollution in this incident was restricted by the open ocean conditions and inclement weather to the application of dispersants to concentrated oil in the vicinity of the ship. Foreshore clean-up operations continued for over 9 weeks.
Kirki - Western Australia, July 1991
On 21 July 1991 the Greek tanker Kirki lost its bow off the coast of Western Australia. During the incident and the subsequent tow to a safe haven some 17,280 tonnes of light crude was lost. Serious pollution of the West Australian coast was avoided due to the dual combination of severe weather conditions and the effects of the Leeuwin Current in dispersing the 7,900 tonnes of oil lost during the initial stages of the spill off Cervantes and Jurien Bay.
Era - South Australia, August 1992
On 30 August 1992 a bunker fuel tank of the Australian oil tanker Era was ruptured by the bow of the tug Turmoil during berthing operations at Port Bonython during high winds. Some 300 tonnes of bunker fuel were released into Spencer Gulf. Soon after the spill, spraying of dispersant commenced. An oily sheen impacted the mangroves and a number of small creeks to the south-west of Port Pirie. Clean-up of the mangrove proved difficult. No vehicular access was available and small craft could only work in the mangroves when the tide was suitable. The oil remaining in the mangroves was left to degrade naturally, as environmental advice at the time recommended that greater damage would result from attempting clean-up action.
Iron Baron - Tasmania, July 1995
The 37 500 dwt BHP-chartered bulk carrier Iron Baron grounded on Hebe Reef in the approaches to the Tamar River in northern Tasmania at 7.30 pm on Monday 10 July 1995. The vessel lost in the region of 325 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, much of which affected foreshores along the Tamar River estuary and some beaches to the east of Hebe Reef.
Mobil Refinery - South Australia, June 1999
On the morning 28 June 1999, a discharge occurred from an offshore loading connection to the Mobil Port Stanvac Refinery in South Australia. Approximately 230 tonnes of Oman crude was discharged 2 nautical miles offshore.
Laura D'Amato - New South Wales, August 1999
On the evening of 3 August 1999 following an incident on the tanker Laura D’Amato, 250 tonnes of Murban crude oil spilled into Sydney Harbour.
The information contained in these summaries were taken from official reports published on each incident. For more information, email Environment Protection Standards
last updated: 25 January 2005