At the end of 1993 I moved to the Queensland Ports Corporation, and continued to write Slick Talk . As Marine Pollution Adviser I am working in the pollution prevention area. This Strategy primarily addresses shipping related pollution, a significant issue in many parts of the shipping- dependent Pacific. Unfortunately, for various reasons it has not yet been implemented. Given that it is now five years old, my first task is to revise and update the Strategy, ensuring its relevance, appropriateness and acceptance and endorsement by member countries.
Physical implementation is then likely to be more effective.
An assessment of the risk of foreign marine organisms being introduced to the region via ships' ballast water and hull fouling. Completion of regional, national and port-specific oil spill contingency plans for the region. Establishment of a central, regional pollution incident reporting centre and database. Characterisation of hydrodynamic conditions and circulation patterns, and modeling of likely pollution dispersal scenarios, for each port and high risk shipping area in the region. Improving regional marine pollution surveillance and enforcement capabilities.