VIC: National oil spill authority called in to Sydney Harbour

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-1999
VIC: National oil spill authority called in to Sydney Harbour

A national authority responsible for cleaning up marine oil spills has been called in to
help with the massive mop-up underway on Sydney Harbour.

The Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre, based in Geelong, south-west of Melbourne, will
assist with the clean-up after thousands of litres of crude oil poured from a tanker into the
harbour.

The spill occurred as the tanker unloaded its cargo of light crude oil at Shell's Gore Bay
terminal last night.

A spokesman for the oil spill centre, established by the oil industry in 1991, says it has
a stockpile of equipment based at strategic points around Australia for combating oil spills.

He says staff from the centre are well versed in the latest spill technologies, including
developments with environmentally friendly dispersants.

Other authorities involved in the clean-up include Shell, the NSW Fire Brigade and the
Sydney Ports Corporation.

AAP RTV st/ls/er/rat/jn

KEYWORD: TANKER MARINE (MELBOURNE)

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