At approximately 3.15am on Wednesday 11 March 2009, the 185m container ship Pacific Adventurer lost 31 containers, each containing ammonium nitrate, while en route from Newcastle to Indonesia via Brisbane. The falling containers ruptured the ship’s fuel tanks, causing it to leak heavy fuel oil. The existence of oil in the water was not reported by the ship to Brisbane Harbour until 5am that morning. By 7.20am Maritime Safety Queensland had sought the provision of an Oil Spill Trajectory Model from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority so as to assess the potential impact of the oil spill (based on the ship’s estimated loss of 20–30t of oil). By 8am, the National Plan was activated by Maritime Safety Queensland with the response operation increasing in intensity thereafter.

The use of dispersant was considered, however, the meteorological conditions at the time posed an unacceptable safety risk for the application of dispersants by ships or aircraft.

23 March 2009: Status of oil spill clean up

(Source: Queensland Government briefing notes)

WPSQ says:

The notes above were presented to the media as the event unfolded but what the media reported to the public was not necessarily based on facts. The timing of the Queensland State Election affected the reporting and comment by the media.

Aspects of the cleanup could have been done better but it was one of Queensland's worst oil disasters and the challenge was exceptional.

An independent panel of scientists - chaired by Australian Institute of Marine Science CEO Dr Ian Poiner - overseeing the impact of the south-east Queensland oil spill includes experts from around the country. The scientists reported on 24 March 2009 that Queensland authorities had used appropriate methods to clean up more than 200,000L oil spilled from the Pacific Adventurer.

The State Government continues to involve Wildlife Queensland and other stakeholders in the recovery process. We will be assessing the impacts on wildlife and Moreton Bay’s biodiversity.

For more information on Wildlife Queensland's activities, call us on +61 7 3221 0194 or send us an email.