OIL SPILL CAPTAIN SURRENDERS PASSPORT

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Paul Lucas
15/03/2009
OIL SPILL CAPTAIN SURRENDERS PASSPORT

The captain of ship at the centre of the oil spill off Moreton Island has surrendered his passport to Commonwealth authorities, Deputy Premier Paul Lucas said tonight.

The passport is in the possession of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

"Maritime Safety Queensland officers served Queensland legal papers on the captain of the Pacific Adventurer this afternoon, under the Transport Operations (Marine Polution) Act," said Mr Lucas.

"He is required to stay on board the ship.

"This will allow investigators to comprehensively investigate the facts and circumstances around the two oil spills last week.

"These investigations will include why only 30 tonnes of oil was first reported to have been spilled by the ship, when the true figure is now believed to be around 250 tonnes."

The Pacific Star lost 31 containers of ammonium nitrate overboard on Wednesday in heavy seas caused by ex Tropical Cyclone Hamish.

Mr Lucas said three separate investigations are underway:

*Australian Transport Safety Bureau - conducting standard marine safety investigations.

*Australian Marine Safety Authority - investigating the seaworthiness of the ship, the adequacy of the manner in which the containers were stowed, and the safe navigation of the vessel.

*Marine Safety Queensland - investigating any potential offence concerning the discharge of oil affecting Queensland coastal waters and beaches under the Transport Operations (Marine Pollution) Act.

A massive clean-up effort is continuing, with the focus on parts of Moreton Island affected by the oil spill.

"The workers are doing a fantastic job - on Moreton, for example, we asked for 100 State Emergency Service volunteers and got 130.

"More than 50 per cent of the oil affected areas are now clean across the Sunshine Coast, Bribie Island and Moreton Island," said Mr Lucas.

"Both the Sunshine Coast and Bribie Island are all but clear, in fact we've seen some workers move from there to Moreton Island today.

"More than 25 per cent of areas impacted by oil on Moreton Island are now clean.

"A 10 kilometre stretch was washed clean by nature and workers have now cleaned more than 4 kilometres by hand.

"There's still a big job in front of us but I'd like to thank the workers for the difference they've already made."

Permanent Link: OIL SPILL CAPTAIN SURRENDERS PASSPORT
Publish Date: 16 Mar 09

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