Hazmat units attended Kiama Harbour on Friday 12 December 2024 at about 7:30 pm after reports of a possible oil slick from a moored boat in the harbour.

Local fire units from Kiama and Shellharbour attended. While firefighters didn't detect any leak from a fishing boat, they spent some hours using hand operated surface spill booms to clean up any surface material to reduce possible hazards and to improve water quality.

Earlier in the day, local bioluminescence and astronomy expert David Findlay reported to Facebook about the presence of nocttiuca scintillans, a bioluminescence algae in Kiama Harbour. David described the algae as ‘white and wispy’ but at night it shines with a blue or blue-ish luminescence.

However, the oil slick when observed was clearly fuel-based and on the other side of Kiama Harbour.

It is possible that Kiama Harbour will have some bioluminescence over the next few nights. Sunset is currently expected at 8:13pm in Kiama.

Photos supplied by Kippa the Wonder Dog and Daniel.