Chinese bulk carrier runs aground on the Great Barrier Reef – Oil leaking

Coal tanker Shen Neng 1, aground on a reef 70km east of Great Keppel Island. Credit Maritime Safety Queensland

April 2010. Australian maritime emergency authorities were been alerted after a Chinese-registered coal carrier ran aground 38 nautical miles east of Great Keppel Island on the 3rd April. The vessel was in a restricted zone of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, approximately 13 nautical miles off its set course and well outside the authorised shipping corridor. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will be conducting a full investigation into the incident.

65000 tonnes of coal
The 230m-long bulk coal carrier Shen Neng 1 ran aground after leaving the Port of Gladstone carrying approximately 65,000 tonnes of coal bound for China. The ship's captain has told Maritime Safety Queensland that there is one hole in the ship's lower hull.

The coal tanker Shen Neng 1, aground on a reef 70km east of Great Keppel Island. Credit Maritime Safety Queensland

Dispersants have been deployed on oil leaking from a Chinese bulk coal carrier that has run aground off Central Queensland. One set of dispersants were deployed by light aircraft and a second spray has been scheduled to manage a "ribbon" of oil measuring approximately three kilometres by 100 metres. 

Oil dispersants
Further inspections will continue to assess the effectiveness of the dispersant. Dispersants are most effective in breaking up heavy oil when deployed within 24-48 hours.

The Shen Neng 1 is understood to have approximately 975 tonnes of heavy fuel oil onboard. Maritime Safety Queensland staff have only observed small volumes of oil in the water in the vicinity of the ship.

While the amount of oil is considered relatively small at this stage, it is a ‘persistent' substance and expected to take some time to break apart. Current modelling shows that oil could possibly wash up around the Shoalwater Bay military area within the next two days. However this is very dependant on the effectiveness of the dispersants and the prevailing weather.

Maritime Safety Queensland General Manager Patrick Quirk said aerial and sea inspections of the carrier had continued throughout the day but that sea conditions, including a swell of about 2-3m, had ruled out deploying a ‘boom' to date.

Professional salvers are now onboard the Shen Neng 1 to begin the process of salvaging the grounded Chinese bulk coal carrier. Maritime Safety Queensland General Manager, Patrick Quirk, said the initial damage report was that the main engine room was breached, the main engine damaged and the rudder seriously damaged.

"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," he said.

"MSQ have aircraft in the air now doing an assessment, although the hope is that little oil escaped through the night. We also have helicopters surveying the coast to prepare early planning in the event of needing to get equipment onto the beach. A second tug is due to arrive in the early afternoon to assist the specialised tug already there to stabilise the vessel," Mr Quirk said.

Not the first time 

• In November 2000 a Malaysian-owned container ship, the Bunga Teratai Satu, ran aground on Sudbury Reef, 22nm south-east of Cairns. The ship left a 70-metre scar along the reef and approximately 2,000 square metres of coral was pulverised.
• In 2002 the Greek-owned bulk carrier Doric Chariot ran aground on Piper Reef, causing significant damage to about 3,500 square metres of the reef.
• And just last year, 250 tonnes of oil escaped from the container ship Pacific Adventurer and washed up on Sunshine Coast beaches, Bribie Island and Moreton Island.