Unusual activity at Entrance Point this week

Published on 16 October 2023

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There will be unusual activity around Broome Port this week, as the Department of Transport (DoT) and Kimberley Ports Authority (KPA) test their readiness to respond to a maritime environmental emergency during Exercise Roebuck Challenge from Tuesday to Thursday (October 17-19).

The exercise is part of DoT’s role as the Hazard Management Agency for Maritime Environmental Emergencies (MEE) in WA State Waters and will be based on the scenario of a shipping incident and oil spill at the Port of Broome.

The Department of Transport will partner with Kimberley Ports Authority on the exercise, with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the Shire of Broome, the Nyamba Buru Yawuru, and many other organisations also offering support.

Exercise Roebuck Challenge will involve an Incident Management Teams and Field Response Teams based Broome, with local, state and national resources being deployed as part of the exercise. It will include unusual activity around the port that you would expect after an oil spill. This includes:

  • Response vessels
  • Observation aircraft
  • Green dye in the water to simulate the oil spill (this is normally used in survival at sea kits and not harmful to the environment).

Exercise Roebuck Challenge activities will have minimal to no impact on the local community, with deployment areas focused around the Port of Broome, Roebuck Bay and Gantheaume Point.

For further information about maritime environmental emergency response arrangements in WA, visit https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/maritime-environmental-emergencies.asp

 

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