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Reporting maritime environmental emergencies
How and when to report a marine transport emergency or marine oil pollution in WA.
All marine oil pollution incidents or marine transport emergency incidents that are or have the potential to impact WA State Waters must be reported to the Department of Transport.
Reporting incidents immediately will help to minimise the potential impact of the incident to the environment, people and property.
Types of maritime environmental emergency incidents
A marine oil pollution incident is an actual or impending spillage, release or escape of oil or an oily mixture into the marine environment.
A marine transport emergency incident is an actual or impending event involving a vessel, including collision, a stranding or an incident of navigation.
How to report an incident
Step 1: Report the incident immediately
Call 08 9480 9924 to report all maritime emergency incidents.
You will need to provide:
- your name and contact details
- where and when the incident occurred
- a description of the incident (including incident type, any pollution details, weather and environmental details)
- a summary of any actions taken, underway or planned as a result of the incident
If the incident is occurring within a Port or Maritime Facility, you must also report the incident to the relevant Port Authority/Operator of Facility Manager/Operator.
Step 2: Submit an incident report
If requested, you may need to submit an incident report.
For marine oil pollution incidents, send a completed pollution report (POLREP) by email to marine.pollution@transport.wa.gov.au within:
- 24 hours for LEVEL 1 incidents
- 2 hours for actual/potential LEVEL 2/3 incidents
| Marine pollution report (POLREP) | Kb | |
For all marine transport emergency incidents, send a completed AMSA Incident Alert (Form 18) by email to marine.pollution@transport.wa.gov.au within:
- 24 hours for LEVEL 1 incidents
- 2 hours for actual/potential LEVEL 2/3 incidents
Mandatory reporting requirements
Where a marine oil pollution incident occurs within WA State Waters (including ports), the master or person-in-command of the vessel or facility that causes or identifies the incident must report it immediately.
Failure to report a marine oil pollution incident may result in prosecution.
Members of the public can report marine oil pollution by calling 08 9480 9924.
Other types of incidents
Other types of pollution
You can report pollution, illegal dumping and other environmental matters, including land based oil spills and rubbish in the marine environment to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.
Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) incident
You can report HAZMAT incidents to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. For life threatening emergencies call 000.
Hazardous Materials | Department of Fire and Emergency Services
Algae blooms
Algae blooms often get mistaken for marine oil pollution. You can report algae blooms to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.
If you are unsure if it is an algae bloom or a marine oil pollution, report the incident to the Department of Transport by calling 08 9480 9924.
Oiled wildlife
The occurrence of Oiled Wildlife may not be linked to a Marine Oil Pollution incident.
You can report Oiled Wildlife to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions via the Wildcare Helpline on 08 9474 9055.
If you believe the oiled wildlife are due to a marine oil pollution incident, report the incident to the Department of Transport by calling 08 9480 9924.
Shipboard fire
A shipboard fire does not necessarily constitute a marine transport emergency.
You can report Fire incidents to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. For life threatening emergencies call 000.
If you are unsure if it is also a marine transport emergency, report the incident to the Department of Transport also by calling 08 9480 9924.
Marine search and rescue
The management of maritime environmental emergencies do not include the facilitation of marine search and rescue. For life threatening emergencies call 000.
More information on the management of marine search and rescue is available on the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) website.
Recreational boating incidents
Generally, recreational boating emergencies and incidents are not maritime environmental emergencies.
For life threatening emergencies call 000.
Find out more reporting recreational boating incidents.
Incidents in port waters
Any maritime environmental emergency that is occurring within a Port or Maritime Facility, must also be reported to the relevant Port Authority/Operator of Facility Manager/Operator.
Find out more about Port Authorities in WA.
When reporting to a Port, maritime environmental emergencies still need to be reported to the Department of Transport also by calling 08 9480 9924.