Together with the Western Australian Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure, Fremantle Ports and the Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre, we will be conducting a major exercise around a simulated oil spill from a ship in March 2026 in Fremantle, Western Australia.
The exercise, known as Exercise Transit Challenge 2026, will involve around 300 personnel over 3 days, 8am- 4.30pm, 17-19 March 2026 in Fremantle, at Woodman Point, and at Kwinana Bulk Terminal. There will also be an AMSA Incident Management Team running out of the AMSA Canberra office, 16-17 March.
During the simulation, 'oil' will drift into Cockburn Sound and on to beaches, impacting coastal environments and wildlife.
The exercise simulates a level 3 marine pollution incident, the highest classification of incident in the National Plan for Maritime Environment Emergencies 2020 (National Plan).
Every ship navigating Australian waters poses a potential marine pollution risk. Although the likelihood of a major marine pollution incident is low, its impact could be significant, affecting the environment, society, economy and infrastructure. The Cockburn Sound, rich in diverse ecosystems, is particularly vulnerable. The location is ideal to practise inter-jurisdictional coordination of a major pollution exercise.
Minimal impact
Stakeholder and community engagement has taken place in the Fremantle region and the exercise will have minimal impacts on residents and the local environment.
- The exercise will not use any toxic substances, material or equipment. There will be no impact on wildlife or marine life.
- No roads or pathways will be closed, but sections of beach may be used.
- There will be marine pollution vessels on the water however it is not anticipated that that any waterways or coastal water will be closed. Impact on boating, fishing and commercial vessel operations will be minimal.
Responders dressed in protective clothing will be working on the water in Cockburn Sound between the Jervoise Bay Sailing Club and the Woodman Point Ammo Jetty. Exercise participants will also be in Fremantle Port Inner Harbour and Kwinana Bulk Terminal.
Local residents are requested to not approach exercise participants.
All agencies involved are resourced and equipped to deal with a real marine pollution emergency, should it occur during the exercise.
The exercise will go ahead unless weather conditions impact the safety of exercise participants.
About the exercises
The National Plan for Maritime Environment Emergencies, operational since 1973, outlines the national strategy for managing maritime crises. The plan fosters a collaborative approach between government and industry, crucial for efficient incident response. It sets out annual exercises to practice major pollution responses across national, state and territory agencies, in different locations across Australia.
The name for this exercise, Exercise Transit Challenge 2026, is taken from the Transit Reef near where part of the exercise will take place. The name is also derived from the notional transitioning of vessels from Commonwealth into state waters during the exercise and the transition of incident control, from us to the Western Australian Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure.
