The massive shipping spill of the toxic chemical, ammonium nitrate in the seas off Brisbane highlights yet again the real dangers of transporting hazardous chemicals by sea, according to the National Toxics Network (NTN).

“It’s clear from this accident there is a real risk of seriously hazardous spills when toxic chemicals and waste are transported in large quantities by ship” said Dr Mariann Lloyd Smith.

“With the weather becoming more unpredictable as a result of climate change and the ferocity and frequency of storms increasing, this is something that is likely to occur more often” she said.

“We understand the ammonium nitrate on its way from Newcastle to Brisbane comes from Orica’s production facility at Kooragang Island. Orica is one of Australia’s largest manufacturers of ammonium nitrate”.

“We are also particularly concerned about a proposal by Orica to send sixteen thousand tonnes of its extremely hazardous hexachlorobenzene (HCB) waste from Botany NSW to Denmark by ship. This amount of material would need to be sent in many ship loads, increasing the risk of an accident, which would be catastrophic,” Dr Lloyd Smith said.

“The recent problem with lead spillage at the Esperance port in WA is another example of how terribly wrong things can go when large quantities of toxic chemicals are moved by sea”.

“The National Toxics Network is calling on the Australian government to reassess the bulk movement of toxic chemicals and waste by sea in light of the serious new risks posed by unpredictable weather”.

“We are specifically calling on the government to refuse Orica’s application to send its thousands of tones of toxic waste by sea to Denmark” Dr Lloyd Smith concluded.

Shipping spill demonstrates dangers of transporting toxic materials

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