Anger grows over shipping lines' risk-taking around reef

CANBERRA - Demands for new protections for the world's largest coral reef system are growing following the grounding of a Chinese coal ship and the leaking of oil off the Queensland coast.

Political fury that the Shen Neng 1 apparently took a disastrous and illegal short cut through the Great Barrier Reef has been matched by anger at rules that allow large ships to navigate through sensitive areas without pilots.

Environmentalists are also worried the already busy shipping lanes through the reef will become even more at risk as the coal industry expands, despite potential dangers identified in official risk assessments.

The Shen Yeng 1 ploughed at full speed on to the Douglas Shoal, inside a restricted area of the reef, on Saturday night, grounding itself and leaking about two tonnes of oil into the waters of the World Heritage-listed coral system. Good weather has helped avoid greater damage.

Tugs have stabilised the ship as salvage experts examine the options, the oil has been successfully dispersed, and emergency units are on standby in case the situation deteriorates.

Even so, Great Barrier Reef Maritime Park Authority chairman Russell Reichelt said the grounding of the bulk coal carrier posed a significant threat to the reef.

He said the Douglas Shoal was surrounded by sensitive shallow reefs that were high in biodiversity, many of which were still recovering from the impact of Cyclone Hamish early last year.

Beyond the immediate salvage operation are the allegations that the Shen Neng I took an illegal shortcut that diverted it up to 15km from its official course, and claims that existing rules are allowing others to regularly follow similar routes.

Yesterday, after flying over the scene, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was furious that the vessel was so far off course.

"It is outrageous that any vessel could find itself 12km off course in the Great Barrier Reef," he said.

"I take any threat to the Great Barrier reef fundamentally seriously.

"The practical challenge is to deal with the situation now [and] to bring to account those who are responsible."

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said the ship's owners and captain should face the full force off the law, which could include fines of up to A$1 million ($1.26 million) for China's Cosco Group and up to A$250,000 for the captain.

But the Sheng Neng 1 may only be a pointer to a far wider problem of ships making illegal shortcuts through the reef, risking damage that could include major oil spills that would devastate the coral and seriously damage Queensland's sensitive coastline.

With 10,000 ship movements along the Queensland coast every year - 2500 of them through the reef's inner route between Torres Strait and Cairns - the potential for disaster is real.

The Marine Park Authority says that there have been 600 shipping and boating incidents since 1987, including groundings, collisions and sinkings.

In all, there were 282 confirmed spills of fuels and waste materials from vessels in the World heritage area between 1987 and 2002.

Illegal shortcuts increase the risk.

A Maritime Safety Queensland spokesman told ABC radio that he believed reports from commercial fishermen that ships regularly used the shortcuts, and the Marine Park Authority confirmed that ships had been prosecuted in the past for diverting from legal courses.

Fishermen and environmentalists are also angry that commercial fishing vessels are more closely monitored than large bulk carriers - which in some parts of the reef are not monitored at all - and that regulations do not always insist on the use of pilots.

No pilot was aboard the Sheng Neng 1 when it grounded.

Greens Leader Bob Brown said the failure to insist on pilots was reckless and risked potential disaster for one of the world's greatest natural wonders.

He said the federal and Queensland Governments were planning a massive expansion of coal exports that would turn the Great Barrier reef into "coal highway".