Urgent action needed to avoid major shipping disaster
5th April, 2010
Prime Minister Rudd, Transport Minister Albanese and Environment Minister Garrett should wake from their Easter slumber and ensure all necessary resources are immediately provided to safely remove the Chinese bulk carrier Shen Neng 1, stuck fast on Douglas Shoal off Rockhampton.The Shadow Minister for Transport, Warren Truss, said the commentary on who should pay and what should be done to avoid a similar incident in the future should take second place to urgent immediate action to secure the vessel and avoid further damage to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
While the Shen Neng 1 is carrying 65,000 tonnes of coal, the greatest risk to the marine environment comes from its fuel oil most of which is fortunately still on board. Lessons should have been learnt from recent experiences in Queensland waters that failure to properly contain an oil spill can have disastrous consequences.
There are many innovative new ways to treat oil spills and the best of technology must be on hand if there are more serious leaks from the vessel.
The Pacific Responder, the largest tug in Australia, which was commissioned and stationed in Cairns by the previous government for just this kind of emergency. It should already be on its way to the Shen Neng 1.
The Government should also ensure that any relevant Defence resources are deployed to the area. If any oil reaches the mainland, it is expected to come ashore at Shoalwater Bay, a major Australian military training area.
Mr Truss said it is extraordinary that such a large vessel could have been 25 kilometres off course so soon after departure from Gladstone. The vessel should have been nowhere near the reef.
While some are suggesting that all vessels sailing near the Barrier Reef should carry local pilots, and undoubtedly, if there had been a pilot on board, this incident would not have occurred, there are more practical ways of ensuring ships do not stray off course.
The GPS-based Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) operating in more northerly waters detects vessels that have moved off course and is able to alert them. When an Inquiry is held into this incident, the Government should urgently examine extending the VMS further south.
The Government now requires small fishing vessels to carry VMS and they are relentlessly pursued if they accidentally take a fish from an incorrect zone. If it is necessary for small fishing vessels to have VMS, why should not the same rules apply to large bulk carriers?
Mr Truss said the Shen Neng 1 could become Australia’s worst modern maritime disaster if the current incident is not handled speedily and expertly.
