The Great Barrier Reef is in danger of being damaged due to a stranded Chinese ship leaking oil into the ocean after it ran aground off north-eastern Australia. The Shen Neng 1 aground near Great Keppel Island. Photo: Australian Maritime Safety Authority

By Our Foreign Staff
Published: 4:05PM BST 04 Apr 2010 The 230 metre (754ft) Shen Neng I bulk coal carrier was on its way to China from the Queensland port of Gladstone when it ran aground on a shoal on Saturday. As well as carrying 65,000 tonnes of coal, it had 950 tonnes of oil on board and officials said patches had been spotted in water early the next day. It was located 43 miles east of Great Keppel Island, offshore from the city of Rockhampton. Anna Bligh, the premier of Queensland state, said the ship was in such a bad state, it was in danger of breaking up completely thereby posing a danger to the reef. “The situation remains serious as the extent of the damage means there is a very real risk that the vessel may break apart,” Ms Bligh said. “Every effort is now being made to limit the impact of this incident on the Great Barrier Reef.” … “It would devastate the local ecosystems in this area,” Ian Herbert, vice-chairman of the local Capricorn Conservation Council, said. “There are corals surrounding some of these islands that are very special.”

Great Barrier Reef ‘in danger of being damaged’ due to oil-leaking Chinese ship