The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is the Australian Government agency responsible for managing Australia's National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and other Noxious and Hazardous Substances (National Plan). AMSA achieves this by working with State/Northern Territory governments, the shipping, oil, exploration and chemical industries and emergency services to ensure there is an effective response to pollution incidents in the marine environment.
The National Plan has been in place since 1973. The purpose of the National Plan is to maintain a national integrated Government/industry organisational framework capable of effective response to oil or chemical pollution incidents in the marine environment and to manage associated funding, equipment and training programs to support National Plan activities.
Part of AMSA's management responsibilities under the National Plan is the coordination of a comprehensive National Training Program to familiarise personnel at all levels with the requirements of planning and responding to the needs arising from an oil or chemical spill.
Over many years the training program, developed and delivered by Commonwealth and State Governments and oil industry representatives, has been enhanced with a clear emphasis of improving and integrating responder Health and Safety into the overall management of a response.