TASPORTS said it is assisting Tasmania’s Environment Protection Authority as it responds to an oil spill in the Tamar River.
The river is an estuary in the state’s north which, according to local media reports, contains a number of abandoned ships and smaller vessels.
It is understood the EPA was notified on Monday of an oil spill from derelict ferry Harry O’May and rusting tugboat Cape Bruny.
Local media suggests the EPA was, as of 11 October, unable to determine how much oil had escaped from the vessels.
“The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) is responding to a minor oil spill incident in the upper Tamar River region,” TasPorts said in a statement.
“Under direction from the EPA, TasPorts has deployed an oil spill boom around the hulks of derelict vessels Harry O’May and Cape Bruny at the site and continues to provide operational support to the incident.
“The assistance being provided by TasPorts to the EPA is in line with normal operating procedures regarding marine pollution response and the management of environmental risk.”
TasPorts said it will continue to provide support as directed.
