WA oil spill experts to help in Solomon Island emergency

The Department of Transport (DoT) will send a team of oil spill response experts to the Solomon Islands to help with an oil spill clean-up and recovery operation.

DoT General Manager Marine Safety Ray Buchholz said WA had been asked to contribute to an Australian Contingent being led by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

“DoT, which is responsible for ensuring WA has an adequate response capability for marine oil spills in WA waters, will send five officers who have experience in incident management and response activities in the field,” Mr Buchholz said.

“The officers are specialists in oil spill response and are members of the National Response Team.”

Mr Buchholz said that, as well as helping Solomon Island authorities deal with the emergency, the officers would gain further experience, which would help WA maintain appropriate responses to oil spill emergencies.

He said the request for specialist assistance was part of bilateral arrangements overseen by the Commonwealth, and other State authorities were contributing additional personnel.  The Australian contingent will also be joined officers from New Zealand.

“The incident has occurred in a remote part of the Solomon Islands and the focus of the first contingent will be to enhance situation awareness, formulate a detailed response plan and prepare the way for the commencement of coordinated operations on the ground,” Mr Buchholz said.

The WA contingent will depart in the next few days for a 12-day deployment and there is a likelihood of a second group leaving next week.

For more information about oil spill response in WA visit the Marine pollution page. 

Media contact: media@transport.wa.gov.au