Asia-Pacific
Australia moves to contain oil spill on Great Barrier Reef
(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-06 08:20
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Grounded ship's leakage is small; salvage could take weeks
ROCKHAMPTON, Australia - Workers rushed to contain an oil spill on Monday from a coal-carrying ship grounded on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, sending two tugboats to stabilize the vessel so that it would not break apart and further damage the fragile coral beneath.
 Oil is seen next to the 230-metre (754-ft) bulk coal carrier Shen Neng I about 70 km (43 miles) east of Great Keppel Island in this April 4, 2010 picture. [Agencies] |
Traveling at full speed of 10 mph (12 knots, 16 kph), the Chinese-registered Shen Neng 1 rammed into Douglas Shoals late Saturday, an area that has shipping restrictions in order to protect what is the world's largest coral reef and one that is listed as a World Heritage site because of its gleaming waters and environmental value as home to thousands of marine species.
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"Our No 1 priority is keeping this oil off the Barrier Reef and keeping it contained," she told reporters in Brisbane.
Bligh said a salvage team had reached the ship Monday and were attempting to stabilize it.
The stricken Shen Neng I belongs to the Shenzhen Energy Group, a subsidiary of China's state-owned China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company, better known by its acronym COSCO.
The 230-meter ship was carrying 65,000 tons of coal to China when it ran aground with 975 tons of heavy fuel oil on board. Although only a small amount of oil has leaked so far, rescue officials have said the ship will require a long and careful salvage operation, expected to take weeks.
Authorities fear the ship will break apart during the salvage operation and wreck more coral, or spill more of its heavy fuel oil into the sun-soaked sea. However, Bligh said the risk of the ship breaking apart appeared to have lessened since the first of two tug boats arrived and reduced its movement.
"One of the most worrying aspects is that the ship is still moving on the reef to the action of the seas, which is doing further damage" to the coral and hull, according to Marine Safety Queensland's general manager, Patrick Quirk. Initial damage reports showed flooding in the main engine room and damage to the main engine and the rudder.
Australia is a major exporter of coal. Environmentalists criticize the trade as significantly contributing to global carbon emissions and have called for a halt to plans to expand the industry. However, tourism is also a major earner of foreign exchange and the Great Barrier Reef and Queensland's pristine beaches are among the top tourist attractions.
Numerous conservation groups have expressed outrage that bulk carriers can travel through the reef without a specialized marine pilot. Shipping lanes in Australian waters typically require a seasoned captain to go aboard an incoming ship to help navigate around hazards. Until now, the government has said there is no need for marine pilots around the protected area because large ships are banned there.
COSCO and Shenzhen Energy Group officials in China could not be contacted for comment on April 5 because it was a Chinese public holiday.
China Daily contributed to this report.
Associated Press
