The response to the Iron Baron oil spill : report of the Review Group.

Following the grounding, subsequent refloating and disposal of the BHP-chartered bulk carrier Iron Baron, in July 1995, the Commonwealth Minister for Transport, the Hon. Laurie Brereton MHR, announced two investigations. The first was to investigate the circumstances surrounding the grounding of the vessel. The second, the subject of this report, was to review the response under the National Plan to the resulting oil pollution incident. The Review Group attended key debriefing sessions of the main organisations involved with the response; conducted public hearings in both Port Sorell and George Town, Tasmania; received submissions from interested and affected individuals and organisations; carried out site and equipment inspections; and conducted personal interview and discussions with many people involved with the response. In addition to the offshore and onshore oil pollution clean-up, this incident also involved a very significant wildlife collection, treatment and rehabilitation program