Pollution from ships
Transport for NSW’s Freight & Regional Development Division provides advice on marine environmental matters which relate to ports and shipping in NSW. This includes advice on oil spill prosecutions; domestic ballast water management 
for the prevention of marine pest incursions and the implementation of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78) .
Ballast water management
Australia is a signatory to the International Convention for International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (adopted in 2004) which seeks to prevent the migration of marine pests. Australia has a National System for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions (the National System), which aims to prevent the migration of marine pests through ballast water.
Under the National System, a National Introduced Marine Pest Coordination Group (NIMPCG) has been formed to implement the Convention in Australia. NIMPCG comprises representatives from State/Northern Territory Governments, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) , and the ports, shipping and bulk commodities industries. For more information on marine pests, go to the Australian Government’s Marine Pests Website .
The Australian Ballast Water Unit, which is under the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, is responsible for managing the implementation of the national ballast water system and its interface with ships.
In 2006 NSW Maritime, as the agency responsible at the time, formed the NSW Marine Pest Working Group to ensure key NSW Government agencies are informed of the issues being undertaken by NMPCG and provide a consistent position for NSW on ballast water issues. Since November 2011, Transport for NSW’s Freight & Regional Development Division assumed this responsibility and has been providing assistance to other agencies in response to marine pest incursions.
MARPOL 73/78
Australia is a signatory to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL 73/78) . MARPOL was introduced to address pollution of the marine environment by ships from both operational and accidental causes. MARPOL comprises six Annexes addressing six classes of pollution from ships.
Last updated 05 March 2012
