Tasmania’s Environment Protection Authority is considering legal action so it can inspect the hull of a huge oil rigged moored in the River Derwent.
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EPA director Wes Ford said concerns had been raised about the biosecurity risk posed by Ocean Monarch oil rig during its temporary mooring in the River Derwent.
He said he contacted the owners of the Ocean Monarch mobile offshore drilling unit, Diamond Offshore General, in late November to discuss the need for the EPA to undertake a visual inspection of the hull.
“The purpose of the inspection is to check for the presence of marine pests such as the introduced Colonial Sea Squirt, Didemnum perlucidum, which is now found in Western Australian waters,” Mr Ford said.
“The EPA engaged appropriately qualified contractors to conduct the inspection and the Director sought the owners’ approval for them to access the hull on 18-19 December.”
However, on December 13, the owners advised Mr Ford that the company was unable to provide access and would not approve the EPA’s visual inspection in December.
The rig’s owners have said they would not be able to undertake as visual inspection or report to the EPA within 21 days.
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the Greens and environmental scientists had written to the EPA and raised concerns about the rig a month ago.
“The question is why wasn’t the vessel inspected before it was allowed to park in the River Derwent?” Ms O’Connor said.
“Why were the concerns raised by environmental scientists and the Greens over the past month dismissed?”
The rig is due to leave in January.