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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article7087194.ece
A Chinese coal ship aground on Australia's Great Barrier Reef is leaking oil and in danger of breaking apart, raising fears of serious environmental damage to the world's largest coral reef.
The Chen Neng 1, carrying 65,000 tons of coal to China from the Australian port of Gladstone, ran aground 43 miles (70km) off the east coast of Great Keppel Island tourist resort in northeast Australia late on Saturday. Early today it was found that the hull had been breached, increasing concerns of a major oil spill.
Aircraft that flew over the ship early this morning reported that patches of oil were visible up to two and a half miles (four km) from the stricken ship early this morning.
Maritime Safety Queensland said there had been no major loss from the ship's 950 ton store of oil, but said a fuel tank with 150 tonnes of heavy oil had been breached and the oil spill was being treated as a "serious problem."
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Oil leak leaves 'massive marine disaster'
Oil spill disaster on Australian beaches
MSQ general manager Captain Patrick Quirk said: We could expect the continued leakage of oil is probably the best case we could expect.
"At one stage last night, we thought the ship was close to breaking up. We are still very concerned about the ship," Mr Quirk told reporters.
Anna Bligh, the Premier of Queensland, said the carrier was in danger of breaking apart and a police launch was standing by to evacuate the 23-strong crew if necessary.
However there were concerns a salvage operation to retrieve the ship could spill more oil, which would reach the mainland coast within two days.
"We are now very worried we might see further oil discharged from this ship," said Ms Bligh. Local emergency crews were on standby to clean any oil that reached mainland beaches, she said.
It emerged today that the 755 foot (230 metre) vessel should not have been in the area where it ran aground.
Ms Bligh said the vessel hit the reef at full speed in a restricted zone of the reef, nine miles (15 km) outside the shipping lane.
Its presence outside the shipping channel would be subject to a probing inquiry, she said.
Aircraft have been spraying chemical oil dispersant to two small patches of oil about two and a hal miles (four km) from the stricken ship.
The spill is within the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef but it will not be known for some days whether it is large enough to have a damaging impact on the reef.
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett said it was too early to say whether there would be any lasting effect. "We don't have advice at present as to whether the oil is going to threaten any part of the ecology of the reef," he said.
"The government is very conscious of the importance of the Great Barrier Reef environment and ensuring that impacts on its ecology are effectively managed," Mr Garrett said in a statement.
Conservationists said the fact that there was no legal requirement to have marine pilots on board ships in the area to guide them safely through the 1500 mile long (2500 km) reef system put it in grave danger.
Capricorn Conservation Council spokesman Ian Herbert said he feared the latest incident was "a sign of things to come".
"We are outraged that no marine pilot is required on ships between Gladstone and Cairns," he said.
It is the third potentially major oil spill off Australia's coast in a year. Last March, 40 miles (60 im) of Queensland's southeast coast were declared a disaster area after 42 tonnes of oil spilled into the ocean from the MV Pacific Adventurer during a cyclone.
In October, scientists who surveyed the effects of a damaged oil rig 125 miles (200km) off the coast of West Australia described it as an environmental disaster and compared its long-term effects to those of the Exxon Valdez spill near Alaska in 1989.
A Chinese coal ship aground on Australia's Great Barrier Reef is leaking oil and in danger of breaking apart, raising fears of serious environmental damage to the world's largest coral reef.
The Chen Neng 1, carrying 65,000 tons of coal to China from the Australian port of Gladstone, ran aground 43 miles (70km) off the east coast of Great Keppel Island tourist resort in northeast Australia late on Saturday. Early today it was found that the hull had been breached, increasing concerns of a major oil spill.
Aircraft that flew over the ship early this morning reported that patches of oil were visible up to two and a half miles (four km) from the stricken ship early this morning.
Maritime Safety Queensland said there had been no major loss from the ship's 950 ton store of oil, but said a fuel tank with 150 tonnes of heavy oil had been breached and the oil spill was being treated as a "serious problem."
RELATED LINKS
Oil leak leaves 'massive marine disaster'
Oil spill disaster on Australian beaches
MSQ general manager Captain Patrick Quirk said: We could expect the continued leakage of oil is probably the best case we could expect.
"At one stage last night, we thought the ship was close to breaking up. We are still very concerned about the ship," Mr Quirk told reporters.
Anna Bligh, the Premier of Queensland, said the carrier was in danger of breaking apart and a police launch was standing by to evacuate the 23-strong crew if necessary.
However there were concerns a salvage operation to retrieve the ship could spill more oil, which would reach the mainland coast within two days.
"We are now very worried we might see further oil discharged from this ship," said Ms Bligh. Local emergency crews were on standby to clean any oil that reached mainland beaches, she said.
It emerged today that the 755 foot (230 metre) vessel should not have been in the area where it ran aground.
Ms Bligh said the vessel hit the reef at full speed in a restricted zone of the reef, nine miles (15 km) outside the shipping lane.
Its presence outside the shipping channel would be subject to a probing inquiry, she said.
Aircraft have been spraying chemical oil dispersant to two small patches of oil about two and a hal miles (four km) from the stricken ship.
The spill is within the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef but it will not be known for some days whether it is large enough to have a damaging impact on the reef.
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett said it was too early to say whether there would be any lasting effect. "We don't have advice at present as to whether the oil is going to threaten any part of the ecology of the reef," he said.
"The government is very conscious of the importance of the Great Barrier Reef environment and ensuring that impacts on its ecology are effectively managed," Mr Garrett said in a statement.
Conservationists said the fact that there was no legal requirement to have marine pilots on board ships in the area to guide them safely through the 1500 mile long (2500 km) reef system put it in grave danger.
Capricorn Conservation Council spokesman Ian Herbert said he feared the latest incident was "a sign of things to come".
"We are outraged that no marine pilot is required on ships between Gladstone and Cairns," he said.
It is the third potentially major oil spill off Australia's coast in a year. Last March, 40 miles (60 im) of Queensland's southeast coast were declared a disaster area after 42 tonnes of oil spilled into the ocean from the MV Pacific Adventurer during a cyclone.
In October, scientists who surveyed the effects of a damaged oil rig 125 miles (200km) off the coast of West Australia described it as an environmental disaster and compared its long-term effects to those of the Exxon Valdez spill near Alaska in 1989.
