Maritime Transport Act 1994

Plans and responses to protect marine environment from marine oil spills

281: Interpretation

You could also call this:

"What special words mean in the Maritime Transport Act"

When you read this part of the law, some words have special meanings. A marine oil spill is when oil spills into New Zealand's internal or marine waters. You can find more information about how to deal with marine oil spills in the national marine oil spill contingency plan, which is prepared or reviewed under section 297.

The National On-Scene Commander is the person appointed under section 319 to help with marine oil spills. A marine oil spill response is any action taken to deal with a marine oil spill, and it is led by an on-scene commander. The New Zealand marine oil spill response strategy is the plan for how to respond to marine oil spills, and it is prepared or reviewed under section 283.

You might also hear about the New Zealand Oil Pollution Fund, which is established under section 330. The Oil Pollution Advisory Committee is a group appointed under section 282 to give advice on marine oil spills. An oil spill is when oil is released, discharged, or escapes, and an oil transfer site is a place where oil is transferred to or from a ship.

A regional marine oil spill contingency plan is a plan prepared by a regional council and approved by the Director under section 292 or prepared by the Director under section 295. A regional on-scene commander is a person appointed under section 318 to help with marine oil spills in their region. Requisitioned property is any property that is taken for use in responding to a marine oil spill, under section 305(1)(g).

A shipboard marine oil spill contingency plan is a plan for a ship, and a site marine oil spill contingency plan is a plan for an offshore installation or oil transfer site. These plans are prepared under the marine protection rules and explain what to do in case of a marine oil spill.

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This page was last updated on 25 May 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM337618.

280: Penalties for bodies corporate, or

"Big fines for companies that break the law"

282: Oil Pollution Advisory Committee, or

"A group that helps make decisions about oil spills in New Zealand's oceans."

Part 23Plans and responses to protect marine environment from marine oil spills

281Interpretation

In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,—
marine oil spill means an oil spill into the internal waters of New Zealand or New Zealand marine waters
marine oil spill contingency plan or plan means a shipboard, or site, or regional marine oil spill contingency plan or the national marine oil spill contingency plan
marine oil spill response or response means any action taken by or under the authority, or with the approval, of an on-scene commander in relation to a marine oil spill
national marine oil spill contingency plan or national plan means the plan most recently prepared or reviewed under section 297
National On-Scene Commander means the National On-Scene Commander appointed under section 319
New Zealand marine oil spill response strategy or response strategy means the strategy most recently prepared or reviewed under section 283
New Zealand Oil Pollution Fund means the fund established under section 330
Oil Pollution Advisory Committee or Committee means the committee appointed under section 282
oil spill means any actual or probable release, discharge, or escape of oil
oil transfer site or site means any land, site, building, structure, or facility (whether on land or above the seabed) that is used to transfer oil, or at or from which oil is transferred, to, or from, a ship, or offshore installation
on-scene commander means the National On-Scene Commander or any regional on-scene commander
regional marine oil spill contingency plan means a marine oil spill contingency plan prepared by a regional council and approved by the Director under section 292 or prepared by the Director under section 295
regional on-scene commander means a regional on-scene commander appointed under section 318
requisitioned property means any land, building, vehicle, New Zealand ship, or any other real or personal property requisitioned under section 305(1)(g)
shipboard marine oil spill contingency plan means a plan prepared under the marine protection rules in respect of a ship and providing for the measures to be taken in respect of marine oil spills from the ship
site marine oil spill contingency plan means a plan prepared under the marine protection rules in respect of an offshore installation, or oil transfer site, and providing for the measures to be taken in respect of marine oil spills from the offshore installation or oil transfer site, as the case may be.