3.1 PREAMBLE

In 1995 the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA), and the then Port of Melbourne Authority, now the Victorian Channels Authority (VCA), commissioned the first major study of ship and ballast water movement in Victoria. Published in May 1996, Ballast water, hull fouling, and exotic marine organism introductions via ships - a Victorian study investigated the role of ballast water and ships' hulls in the introduction of exotic marine species into Victorian port waters.

The report emphasised that ships' hulls may play as important a role as ballast water in the introduction of exotic marine organisms into Victorian waters. Although the Terms of Reference for this Inquiry do not specifically mention exotic marine organism transfer via hulls (Chapter 1.4), the Committee now addresses hull fouling and the associated management issues, in recognition of the importance of this method of introduction.

At the time of publication of the above study, the practice of in-water hull cleaning was permitted in Victorian ports (Chapter 2.8). Following publication of the study and the release of the CSIRO's Port Phillip Bay Environmental Study, in-water hull cleaning was effectively banned in Victoria. A Code of Practice for hull cleaning in all Victorian commercial ports was issued by the VCA, becoming effective on 1 January, 1997.

The Committee notes that the introductory information from the chapter - "Investigation into In-Water Hull Cleaning Practices in Victoria" - from the 1996 report, is still pertinent, despite implementation of the new Code of Practice. With the permission of the EPA and the VCA, the Committee now reproduces the first part of that chapter. The Committee agrees with the report's conclusion that, although in-water hull cleaning increases the risk of transfer,

...the issue of vessel fouling and organism transfer is not restricted to a consideration of whether in-water cleaning is taking place or not. Even if fouled hulls are not cleaned in-water, mobile organisms such as crabs and sea stars may drop from the hull or other parts of the vessel and encrusted organisms may spawn. Organisms may also be scraped off the hull during berthing when the vessel is in contact with the wharf.

Sections 3.2 to 3.5 of this Report are drawn directly from the relevant chapter of Ballast water, hull fouling, and exotic marine organism introductions via ships - a Victorian study. Where necessary, minor changes have been made by the Committee. The reproduced text is shown in bold italics.