2-mile scar on Barrier Reef after ship grounding, worst damage seen, will take 20 years to heal

[Liberal_in_LA]

2-mile scar on Barrier Reef after ship grounding
By KRISTEN GELINEAU, Associated Press Writer

Tuesday, April 13, 2010


A Chinese coal carrier rocked back and forth over a section of Australia's Great Barrier Reef after running aground, inflicting a gash 2 miles (3 kilometers) long into a shoal that will take 20 years to heal. A leading marine scientist called it the worst damage he's ever seen to the world's largest coral reef.

The Shen Neng 1 veered into protected waters and ran aground on Douglas Shoal on April 3, immediately leaking 2-3 tons of fuel when coral shredded its hull.

The 755-foot (230-meter) ship was successfully lifted off the reef Monday after crews spent three days pumping fuel to lighten it. Salvage crews later towed it to an anchorage area near Great Keppel Island, 40 nautical miles (45 miles, 70 kilometers) away.

Its refloating left a scar 1.9 miles (3 kilometers) long and up to 820 feet (250 meters) wide.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/04/12/international/i050003D44.DTL#ixzz0l0lFOgBx

[Bluebear]

1. No love for the reef? k/r

It was also a "no-go" zone. Criminal prosecutions to follow:

The Australian authorities have said a Chinese bulk carrier which ran aground off Queensland has caused widespread damage to the famed Great Barrier Reef.

The cleanup is likely to be the biggest operation ever undertaken there.

The Shen Neng 1 was refloated on Monday night, in a salvage operation brought forward because of the threat of bad weather and heavy seas.

The Australian government has indicated that a prosecution will follow because the ship ran aground in a no-go zone.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8616880.stm

[DCBob]

2. That's really horrible but it could have been much much worse.. kudos to the salvage crews...

who kept the main bulk of oil and coal on board averting a catastrophe.

[gmoney]

3. From the people who brought you Chinese drywall...

and lead children's toys, and melamine baby formula, and so on and so on...