Large vessels need to be in safe hands when transiting through the Great Barrier Reef, and this means local pilots with local knowledge, WWF said today.
The global conservation organisation has called for immediate improvements to the way shipping is managed in the Great Barrier Reef after the Chinese-owned bulk coal carrier Shen Neng 1 slammed into the reef on the weekend.
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This is the latest incident in a series of shipping accidents along Queensland’s coast over the past ten years, and highlights the failings of the current management system.
"The current lack of safeguards around shipping in the Great Barrier Reef is akin to playing Russian roulette with one of the world’s most treasured natural icons," said WWF-Australia Director of Conservation Dr Gilly Llewellyn.
"In addition to having compulsory pilots with local expertise on all large vessels in the reef, there needs to be much better monitoring systems in place so that authorities know where large vessels are on the reef at all times.
"There must be no blind spots when ships navigate the Great Barrier Reef. This means real time tracking of all vessels and monitoring to ensure they stay on course."
In November 2000 a Malaysian-owned container ship, the Bunga Teratai Satu, ran aground on Sudbury Reef, 22nm south-east of Cairns. The ship left a 70-metre scar along the reef and approximately 2,000 square metres of coral was pulverised.
In 2002 the Greek-owned bulk carrier Doric Chariot ran aground on Piper Reef, causing significant damage to about 3,500 square metres of the reef.
And just last year, 250 tonnes of oil escaped from the container ship Pacific Adventurer and washed up on Sunshine Coast beaches, Bribie Island and Moreton Island.
"With shipping traffic set to escalate dramatically in these waters over coming years, a major environmental disaster becomes more likely. A review of the current management system is urgently needed to ensure it is completely watertight," Dr Llewellyn said.
By ploughing into Douglas shoals at speed, the Shen Neng 1 has already destroyed corals and damaged the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area.
The Capricorn Cays where the ship is wrecked is a major breeding area for seabirds and marine turtles. Onshore there is the Shoalwater Bay Ramsar-listed wetlands to the north, the Keppel Islands to the East, and Curtis island, an important seagrass area and nesting beach for endangered marine turtles, to the south.
"The ship is carrying more than 6000 barrels of heavy fuel oil. It is disabled, wrecked on a reef and taking a pounding," Dr Llewellyn said.
"It is a ticking environmental time-bomb. If the fuel tanks were to breach it would be an environmental disaster of huge proportions, not to mention the economic impacts of such a leak on tourism and fishing businesses in the area.
"While authorities decide how they are going to salvage the vessel and remove the oil that is onboard, we need to see containment systems in place, and that means booms and skimmers, so that any oil that reaches the water can be collected and removed."
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More information
Charlie Stevens, WWF Media Manager – Queensland, 0424 649 689
Gilly Llewellyn, WWF Director of Conservation, 0406 380 801