Barrier Reef oil spill - National response activated

Media Release

Premier and Minister for the Arts

The Honourable Anna Bligh

04/04/2010

NATIONAL OIL SPILL RESPONSE ACTIVATED

Premier Anna Bligh today said the State and Federal governments were working together to assess how best to salvage the Shen Neng 1 and limit further oil seepage into the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Maritime Safety Queensland activated a national oil spill response plan after the bulk carrier ran aground just after 5pm yesterday on a reef approximately 70 km east of Great Keppel Island and ruptured its fuel tanks.

The vessel was in a restricted zone of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, approximately 13 nautical miles off its set course and well outside the authorised shipping corridor.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will be conducting a full investigation into the incident.

Early-morning flights over the carrier identified a small number of oil patches about two nautical miles south-east from the vessel.

Following approval from the Marine Park Authority, a light aircraft from Rockhampton has sprayed chemical dispersant on the spilled oil. Further inspections will then assess the effectiveness of the dispersant.

The Premier was briefed on the grounding late last night and again this morning.

"This is a serious situation and we've mobilised air, sea and land resources from Brisbane, Gladstone, Rockhampton and north of Cairns in response," Ms Bligh said.

"Maritime Safety Queensland experts have set up control rooms in Brisbane and at the Port of Gladstone.

"They have been in constant contact with the ship since late yesterday as well as Federal maritime and environmental authorities."

"The situation remains serious as the extent of the damage means that there is a very real risk that the vessel may break apart. Every effort is now being made to limit the impact of this incident on the Great Barrier Reef."

The carrier is aground on a shoal and is not expected to be moved without salvage assistance. A salvage assessment is expected to be made later today.