Pacific Shipwreck Database Presentation

8th APHMSA – “Wrecks and Salvage”
Pacific Shipwreck Database
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Background
Extent of the problem
SPREP Strategy – actions
completed, and next steps
Australia’s position
November 20 ,1944
5 miniature
submarines attack USS Mississinewa
oil tanker sunk.
Many of the crew were saved - 60 sailors
died.
Vessel remained undiscovered till 2001.
• USS Mississinewa began
leaking leaking bunker
fuel oil (Navy Special Fuel
Oil NSFO) in August 2001
• Ulithi Lagoon Micronesia
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Oil leaks from the sunken vessel for a month contaminating the
island foreshores before locals report to the Yap authorities.
Subsistence fisheries are shut down in the lagoon causing
hardship for local population of 700 Islanders
Photos – T.Gilbert & Yap EPA
Footage Courtesy 60 Minutes Program - Source US NavSea
In early 2003 the oil
cargo was off-loaded
in a major salvage
operation carried out
by US NavSea and
private salvage
contractors.
Over 2,000,000
gallons (10 million
litres) of heavy fuel oil
was recovered –
believed to be over
95% of the oil onboard.
SPREP Response
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Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program
(SPREP) was requested to undertake a wreck assessment and
investigate the environmental impact of the spill.
Concern over the potential effects of other WWII wrecks in the
Pacific resulted in a project to assess the risks.
Mississinewa
SPREP Wreck dive &
assessment
Footage courtesy Trevor Gilbert
Objective of the SPREP Strategy
Aim of the SPREP “Regional Strategy to Address
Marine Pollution from World War II Ship Wrecks” - to
assess and determine the extent of pollution risk
posed by these vessels to the Island nations of the
Pacific and their resources.
Actions to date…
• Collation of the existing historic data on WWII wrecks in the
Pacific from both military and private sources
• Mapping of vessel geographic location
• Collation of details such as vessel type and tonnage
• Type of oil as cargo and/or bunker fuel
• Details of cause of loss or sinking (e.g. bombing, torpedo etc)
• Determination of jurisdictional responsibility from SPREP
members (Economic Exclusive Zone EEZ)
• Identification of sovereignty (ownership) of individual wrecks
SPREP WWII Pacific Shipwreck
Database Status
• Currently database stands at 3855 vessels
logged (Both military and merchant )
• Over 13.5 million tons of shipping lost in the
Pacific during WWII
• Predominantly Japanese (86%) USA (11%)
SPREP WWII Pacific Shipwreck
Database
Types of Vessels Lost
Of the known vessel types lost…
– 2250 cargo vessels
– 14 battleships
– 28 aircraft carriers
– 201 destroyers
– 58 cruisers
– 182 submarines
Location of WWII
Shipwrecks in the Pacific
SPREP GIS Database
Graphic & Data R. Monfils
88% of the tankers/oilers
shipwrecked in the Pacific
were Japanese owned
Location of WWII Oil Tankers
& Oilers Shipwrecked in the
Pacific - SPREP GIS Database
Graphic & Data R. Monfils
South
China
Sea
Graphic & Data R. Monfils
What’s next?
• Generic Risk Assessment – To compare the risk levels
between sites and rank high, medium and low.
• Agree on the interventions: - high risk – direct (pump-out,
salvage); medium risk – manage site (contingency plan,
restricted access); low risk – leave alone and monitor.
• Site Specific Risk Assessments – including consultations
with Coastal, Flag or Sovereign States and logistics
assessments.
• Planning Implementation – Drawing up of final
implementation plans for interventions including
determining responsibility budgets, timing, logistical
requirements, environmental and social issues.
Position in Australia
• Some 25 WWII wrecks in Australian waters
(less than 1%), including 4 oil tankers
• Important to adopt a Regional approach
• Location of wrecks to be included in
computer-based Oil Spill Response Atlas
– Possible assistance in identifying “mystery” spills.
• Information on WWII and other wrecks in
Australian waters will become part of the
ongoing risk assessment process.
Known Sunken Wrecks in Australian Waters – All Vessels
National Plan Oil Spill Response Atlas