Shen Neng 1 To Be Towed Back To China
Salvage crews have begun to offload coal from the Chinese-registered ship that ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland, Australia last month.
A smaller bulk carrier has docked beside the Shen Neng 1 and work has begun to offload a third of its coal. A second coal lighter will take over offloading duties when the first is full, probably this weekend. Around 19,000 tonnes will be removed from the over the next three weeks and the ship will then be towed back to China.
The Shen Neng 1 ran aground on 3 April causing extensive damage to the reef. It was refloated on 12 April 12 and towed to calmer waters off Hervey Bay on Tuesday for the salvage operation.
MSQ general manager Patrick Quirk said extensive environmental protection measures were in place.
"Water sprays are being used to suppress any coal dust which may be stirred up by the lighter's grab buckets, which are also specially designed to reduce spillage," Mr Quirk said.
"We will also have skilled observers watching the transfer process for any sign of spillage and they can call an immediate halt to the operation if they have any concerns."
Environmentalists have called for the Queensland government to guarantee that the state’s marine parks won’t be used as a refuge for ships that have run aground. A Greenpeace spokeswoman pointed out that the ship had been anchored in the Hervey Bay marine park that was home to dolphins and whales and she urged the state not to allow the Shen Neng 1 to set a precedent.
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