Unlit abandoned oil rig off Dongara sparks safety warnings from maritime union

An abandoned oil drilling platform known as Cliff Head, located roughly 11 kilometres off the coast of Dongara, has been left without operational lights after its operators entered voluntary administration in July. The rig, which has served as a navigational aid for more than a decade, now creates a hazard for commercial fishermen and other vessels in the area. Marine Safety WA and the Western Australian Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure have warned mariners to respect a 500-metre exclusion zone and to consult navigation notices.

Thomas Mayo, assistant national secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia, said the darkness makes the site “extremely dangerous” and called for swift decommissioning. While Federal Resources Minister Madeline King said the government will not use taxpayer money for the $200 million cleanup, she warned she could extend levies if companies cannot pay. Administrators and NOPSEMA have acknowledged the issue and are working to install temporary navigational aids.