Chinese Collier Stranded On Great Barrier Reef "Could Easily Break Up" - SMH

[hatrack]

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The ship is stuck on the reef about 70 kilometres east of Great Keppel Island and teams are working to limit damage from a ribbon of oil that has spilled from the ship. Chemical dispersants are being used on the slick, which stretches for about three kilometres and is about 100 metres wide.

Maritime Safety Queensland general manager Patrick Quirk said authorities were focusing on stabilising the ship to limit any further risk to the reef environment. In a statement issued this morning, he said the initial damage report was that the main engine room was breached, the main engine damaged and the rudder seriously damaged. "MSQ have aircraft in the air now doing an assessment, although the hope is that little oil escaped through the night," he said. "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."

The federal opposition's environment spokesman Greg Hunt said the government must offer the help of the Defence Force. "What we need to make sure is that the Prime Minister is personally in charge, that he assumes responsibility, and therefore appropriate Defence assets should be made available,'' Mr Hunt told the ABC today. "The ship could easily break up, and to be wise after the fact will be an environmental disaster for the barrier reef.''

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http://www.smh.com.au/environment/coal-ship-at-risk-of-breaking-apart-20100405-rlwl.html