Sydney has tested plans for dealing with an oil slick in its famous harbour.

Crews from Sydney Ports and Shell Australia's Gore Bay terminal deployed containment booms during an exercise today.

More than 1000 trading vessels visited Sydney Harbour last year, including more than 100 tankers.

In August 1999, the Italian oil tanker "Laura D'Amato" was discharging its crude oil cargo at Shell's Gore Bay Terminal in Sydney when it leaked 300 tonnes of oil into the harbour.

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