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| Situation Update No. 4 Ref.no.: VI-20100403-25573-AUS
Situation Update No. 4
On 2010-04-05 at 03:25:03 [UTC]
Event: Vehicle Accident
Location: Australia State of Queensland Great Keppel Island Situation: A second tug boat will arrive this afternoon to stabilise the crippled cargo ship Shen Neng 1 amid reports from the crew that the ship is breaking apart under their feet. A Maritime Safety Queensland spokesman said the vessel was no longer leaking oil, but a change in weather could still put severe strain on the ship's structure. “We're prepared for more aerial spray of dispersants if necessary,” he said. The 225m cargo ship picked up 65,000 tonnes of coal from Gladstone and was running at full speed when it crashed into Douglas Shoal, 120km east of Rockhampton, about 5pm on Saturday. The ship had strayed 15km off course when it ran aground on Douglas Shoal, which is off-limits to commercial vessels because it is within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Marine expert Paul Burt said the ship was still at risk of breaking into pieces. “Basically the whole port side of the ship is structurally damaged quite badly so there is a chance of it breaking up,” Mr Burt told the Nine Network. “Also the crew onboard are also saying they can feel the ship breaking up below their feet.” Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said the ship's owner, Cosco Group, should face the full force of the law, because it crashed in the Great Barrier Reef marine reserve, up to 15km from established shipping lanes. “Frankly I think the book should be thrown at this organisation,” she told the ABC. She said 15km was “a long way, where they should not be and we need to understand why.” “This is a very delicate part of one of the most precious marine environments on earth and there are safe, authorised shipping channels and that's where this ship should have been.” Greens leader Bob Brown had chartered a plane and plans to fly over the wreck and survey the damage this afternoon. The Defence department is closely monitoring the Chinese-registered Shen Neng 1, which has already leaked two tonnes of oil. Authorities fear the bulk carrier could break up, dumping its entire load of 65,000 tonnes of coal and 950 tonnes of heavy fuel oil into the sea. A tug boat is being used to stabilise the ship and stop it from continuing to grind against the reef. |  | | | |
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