Fears over Chinese Ship Barrier Reef Oil Spill

It was reported at the start of April 2010 that a Chinese ship was stranded close to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The coal ship –named ‘Shen Neng 1’ – was said to have suffered intense damage and, and a result, its recovery might take some weeks to complete.

All the while, the vessel is leaking oil and fears are high that this oil could potentially impact on the Great Barrier Reef.

According to officials representing the Australian Government, Shen Neng 1 is operated by the Shenzhen Energy Group – a component of COSCO, the China Ocean Shipping Company.

Great Barrier Reef: Chinese Ship

The largest coral reef in the world, the Great Barrier Reef extends to over 133,000 square miles in size and is viewable from outside the earth’s atmosphere. An operation is now underway to prevent the Chinese ship fragmenting and unleashing its contents on the Great Barrier Reef – all 975 tons of it. As these words were being typed, only a minute quantity of fuel had escaped from the vessel, which became immobile after damage occurred to its rudder and engine areas.

Shen Neng’s problems began on 3 April. On this day, it departed from its specified course and was moving at maximum speed. If completed, its voyage – which began in Queensland - would have ended with the delivery of 65,000 tons of coal to China.

Reef Oil Spill

The degree of damage associated with a Great Barrier Reef oil spill could be monumental, environmentalists have said. “We would potentially be looking at an environmental disaster,” the WWF’s Gilly Llewellyn told news agency Reuters, adding: “It would be an extremely large spill.”

More recently, Kevin Rudd – the Prime Minister of Australia – described Shen Neng 1’s apparent diversion as “outrageous.” Any risk posed to the Great Barrier Reef – Australia’s “greatest natural asset” – would be taken “fundamentally seriously”, he said, adding: “The practical challenge is to deal with this situation now, [and] then it is to bring to account those who are responsible.”

Enviro News will provide further coverage of this situation as future facts emerge.