Ocean Monarch ‘unlikely’ to pose risk to Derwent River: EPA

Tasmania’s Environment Protection Authoritiy has delivered a ruling on the biosecurity risk posed by a visiting oil rig in the River Derwent.

AN OIL rig in the Derwent River is “unlikely” to pose a biosecurity risk to the local marine environment, despite a visual investigation detecting several small white growths, according to the Environment Protection Authority.

The EPA said Diamond Offshore General Company’s report on a visual inspection of the Ocean Monarch had not detected any obvious marine pests — but found three small white growths that looked similar to the invasive colonial sea squirt.

EPA director Wes Ford said Tasmanian company Biofouling Solutions’ January 5 survey — conducted used a remotely operated vehicle — found the growths were not displaying invasive characteristics and the presence of significant colonies in inaccessible locations was “unlikely”.

Ocean Monarch oil rig arrives in the River Derwent. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“Based on the various areas inspected, the nature and extent of the biofouling, including the presence of three morphologically similar growth-forms to the Didemnidae family, the report concluded that Ocean Monarch is unlikely to pose an immediate biosecurity risk to the river’s marine environment,” Mr Ford said.

The EPA requested an inspection of the Ocean Monarch on December 14 after it moored in the Derwent for repairs late November. It had previously been in waters off Western Australia.

Diamond Offshore General Company, a Texas-based company, refused in the first instance, despite fears about the possible introduction of the colonial sea squirt.

The Ocean Monarch is expected to leave the Derwent late this month.

MORE

OCEAN MONARCH INSPECTS HULL OF EPA BATTLE

BOATERS IGNORE RIG EXCLUSION ZONE

EPA DENIED ACCESS TO OCEAN MONARCH