4. Complete an incident report (see annex) including the following items.

1. Description of the situation;

2. Direct causes, root causes of the situation;

3. Remedial actions and recommendations.

Case study - 4. Garbage

Fines totaling $97,500 were handed down today in the Sydney Magistrates Court against the owners of a Hong Kong registered chemical tanker for garbage pollution in waters off New South Wales.

A member of the public found a large plastic bag bearing an Australian Quarantine Inspection Service seal floating in Hastings River in January 2003.

It was one of four bags used by AQIS officers to seal meat products found aboard the chemical tanker during an inspection in December 2002.

Each bag was sealed with a numbered plastic tie, which was used by officers from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, assisted by AQIS, to identify the vessel.

The owners pleaded guilty to the offences under the Commonwealth Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Polution from Ships) Act 1983. The maximum fine for these offences is $110,000 for the shipowner and $22,000 for the ship’s master.

 1. Answer the questions.

1. What was the amount of fines handed down in the Sydney Magistrates Court?

2. Where was the chemical tanker registered?

3. What was the reason of fines?

4. What was the region where the garbage pollution happened?

5. What was found in Hastings River?

6. When was the finding discovered?

7. What was in the large plastic box?

8. What organization used such plastic bags?

9. Was that plastic bag sealed?

10. When did the inspection take place?

11. Due to what was the vessel identified?

12. According to what regulation were the owners pleaded guilty?

13. What was the maximum fine for such case?

14. Was the ship's master fined?

15. What was the amount of ship's master fine?

2. Explain the following terms.

1. Fine________________________________________________________________________

2. Garbage pollution_____________________________________________________________

3. Seal________________________________________________________________________

4. A numbered plastic tie__________________________________________________________

5. Pleaded guilty_________________________________________________________________

3. Decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F). Correct the wrong ones.

1. Fines totaling $997,500 were handed down today in the Sydney Magistrates Court against the owners of a Hong Kong registered chemical tanker.___________

2. Fines were handed down in the Sydney Magistrates Court for oil pollution in waters off New South Wales.________

3. It was one of fourty bags used by AQIS officers to seal meat products found aboard the chemical tanker._______

4. The inspection took place in December 2002.________

5. Each bag was sealed with a numbered plastic tie, which was used by officers from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.____________

6. A numbered plastic tie, which was used by officers from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, assisted to identify the AQIS officer.__________

7. The owners were acquitted of the charge to the offences under the Commonwealth Protection of the Sea Act 1983._________

8. The maximum fine for these offenses is $110,000 for the shipowner and $22,000 for the ship’s master.________