Emergencies, accidents and incidents

Marine transport oil spills

The role of the Department's Hazard Management Agency is to protect the marine environment in WA from oil pollution. This is done through the principles of preparation, prevention, response and recovery, as detailed in the National Marine Oil Spill Contingency Plan.

Reporting a spill

To report an oil spills in Western Australian waters call (08) 9480 9924.

Spills can be reported to this number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Reporting an accident or incident

When an accident results in serious injury or death, or the vessel has been damaged enough to make it unseaworthy or unsafe, the owner or skipper must report full particulars of the accident or fire to the Department within seven days.

The marine incident report is available in Forms section of this website.

Commercial vessel incidents

The owner or owner's representative of a commercial vessel shall in the specified form make a report to the Department concerning any accident or damage to the vessel or any death or injury to a person occurring on the vessel.

A Marine Incident report shall be forwarded to the Department:

(a) in the case of a commercial vessel in port, within 48 hours of the occurrence; and

(b) in the case of a commercial vessel at sea, within 48 hours of the first arrival of the vessel at a port.

The marine incident report is available in Forms section of this website.

In addition the Marine Incident Report, where any commercial vessel has an incident or accident and an injury or death occurs as a result, it is a requirement for a report of the injury or death to be forwarded to the Department of Commerce, WorkSafe Division.

Navigation Hazards

If you see a navigational hazard such as floating debris, an obstructed channel, a partially submerged object or anything that could affect the safety of other vessels you should report it by contacting:

Water Police Co-ordination Centre:

  • (08) 9442 8600 - 24hrs a day, 7 days a week

Marine Operations Centre:

  • 1300 863 308 - office hours only
Regional Transport offices Contact - office hours only
Broome (08) 9192 0200
Karratha (08) 9159 6900
Exmouth (08) 9949 2079
Carnarvon (08) 9941 1830
Geraldton (08) 9956 0111
Bunbury (08) 9792 6666
Albany (08) 9892 7333
Kalgoorlie (08) 9022 5999
Esperance (08) 9071 6891
Email: Marine.Safety@transport.wa.gov.au

When reporting a hazard please include the position, location and type of hazard.

Navigation Aid Fault reporting

Should you see a navigational aid that has been damaged, missing or if the light is not functioning or you see a navigational hazard you can report it either by email to the department or by calling the Marine Operations Centre (08) 9431 1000 Office Hours or the Water Police (08) 9442 8600, 24hrs a day 7 days a week). When you are reporting a fault you should include the position/location of the navigational aid and type of fault occurring for example; topmark missing, light not working, buoy out of position.

Cyclone contingency plans

The Department is responsible for the provision of cyclone contingency plans for its maritime facilities located in cyclone prone areas, including:

  • Carnarvon;
  • Exmouth;
  • Onslow; and
  • Pont Samson.

The cyclone contingency plans are available in Publications.

Tsunami

Australian Tsunami Warning Service

Tsunami warnings are being provided by the Australian Tsunami Warning Service, which is made up of a number of Commonwealth and State government agencies.

Geoscience Australia constantly monitors for tsunami waves in open ocean using a network of special stations, called DARTs buoys (Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami). The stations consist of a wave sensor anchored to the seabed and a buoy on the ocean's surface to relay data to ground stations via satellite.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) uses this information and data from coastal tide gauges and seismometers to determine if a tsunami has been generated. If there is a positive identification, BoM is also responsible for issuing alerts to emergency agencies, media and the public.

Upon advice from BoM, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority activates the State arrangements so the emergency services will response to assist the Western Australian community to reduce the impact of a possible tsunami.

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