Australian Oil Leak Disaster – Update April 5
Posted by feww on April 5, 2010
Serial No 1,537. If any posts are blocked in your country, please drop us a line.
Leaky Chinese bulk coal carrier Shen Neng 1 assessed for salvage
Background: Another Oil Leak Nightmare Made in Australia
Images of the 230-meter long coal tanker Shen Neng 1, which ran aground on a reef about 70km east of Great Keppel Island, off the coast of Queensland, Australia, were taken by Maritime Safety Queensland on Sunday (p.m.), 4 April 2010. Images may be subject to copyright. Click images to enlarge.
The 230-meter (754-ft) coal tanker Shen Neng 1 was carrying 65,000 tons of coal to China, with 975 tons of heavy fuel oil on board. Based on all the information available, and in all probability, the vessel could break apart causing an even larger disaster.
The following News Release is by Maritime Safety Queensland:
Ship grounding off Central Queensland – 6:00am update (5 April 2010)
Professional salvors are onboard the Shen Neng 1 this morning to begin the process of salvaging the grounded Chinese bulk coal carrier.
They are part of the salvage contract and more will arrive this morning – they will assess the structural integrity of the ship and options for refloating.
The Shen Neng 1 ran aground about 70km east of Great Keppel Island just after 5pm on Saturday with approximately 975 tonnes of heavy fuel oil onboard.
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.
He said dispersants were deployed yesterday on oil leaking from the carrier.
Dispersants are most effective in breaking up heavy oil when deployed within 24-48 hours.
Related Links:
Fire Earth 
feww said
Australia arrests Chinese crew of grounded coal ship
(Reuters) – Australian police arrested on Wednesday two senior crew members of a Chinese coal ship which ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef, charging them with damaging the reef by failing to sail a correct course.
“Investigations showed that the Shen Neng 1 failed to turn at a waypoint required by the intended course of the ship. A waypoint is a location at which a ship is to alter course,” the federal police said in a statement.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63D17N20100414
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Stranded ship “time bomb” to barrier reef
(Reuters) – A stranded Chinese coal ship leaking oil onto Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is an environmental time bomb with the potential to devastate large protected areas of the reef, activists said on Monday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63A01720100414
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China ship ‘seriously damaged’ Great Barrier Reef
The Australian authorities have said a Chinese bulk carrier which ran aground off Queensland has caused widespread damage to the famed Great Barrier Reef.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8616880.stm
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feww said
UPDATE:
A bigger disaster seem to have been averted as salvage teams refloated the Chinese coal ship which had ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef.
“The ship, which leaked around two tons of heavy fuel oil, was refloated at high tide on Monday night and towed to safe anchorage near Great Keppel Island, a tourist resort, for a damage inspection.” Reuters reported.
“Until we get divers down you can’t be totally certain how damaged this thing is underneath,” said Queensland state Transport Minister Rachel Nolan on Tuesday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63A01720100413
feww said
The Great Barrier Reef scandal
The Great Barrier Reef is threatened by the worst environmental disaster in Australia’s history after a ship ran aground. So why are giant coal carriers allowed to use this well-known shipping hazard as a shortcut?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/06/great-barrier-reef-ship-aground