The Shen Neng 1 is still pumping oil onto the Queensland coast.
As Australia desperately tries to refloat the grounded Chinese ship off the Great Barrier Reef, authorities are warning that they will prosecute those responsible.
Heavy winds are due to batter the Queensland coast later tomorrow with the Met Office warning of 10 foot swells due to high winds. This gives a new urgency to the battle to refloat the Shen Neng 1 which has been grounded on Douglas Shoal and leaking oil into the seas for just over a week now.
Efforts have been made to try and contain the oil leaks around the fragile and protected Great Barrier Reef and the strong winds will hamper this effort. Meanwhile authorities are looking into why the ship was following an unauthorised route and are warning that those responsible face prosecution and compensation costs. The extent of the damage to the Great Barrier Reef will not be known for some weeks yet.
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world and is named as one of the seven natural wonders of the world and a state icon of Queensland. It is home to hundreds of protected species of marine life such as six different species of turtle, thirty species of whales, dolphins and porpoises, seventeen species of sea snake and 1,500 species of fish, that’s not to mention the four hundred coral species that make up the reef. It’s also a major tourist industry, attracting 1.6 million visitors who travel to Australia especially to visit this unique place. This nets the Australian travel industry around $1 billion per year.
Damage done to the reef by oil leaks can only damage the Australian travel industry as tourists are kept away from clean-up sites. Just how this latest oil spill will affect traveller numbers to Queensland’s greatest attraction is anyone’s guess.
However the fragile reef is routinely put into danger by unscrupulous pilots who use the marine park as a “rat run” that cuts down on voyage time saving the bulk carriers both time and money. The Australian authorities have now pledged to strengthen maritime laws and come down hard on those who break them.
In court today are the Vietnam and South Korean crew of the MV Mimosa which strayed into protected waters earlier this month. No doubt the Australian government will be hoping that their prosecution along with the investigation of the Chinese ship will deter future carriers from cutting corners.
If you want to travel to Australia, perhaps to visit the Great Barrier Reef, then check out our Australian holiday guide which is full of holiday ideas from diving to chilling on the beach. Whatever your dream holiday, we have it covered!
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2 Responses to “High Queensland Winds Pose Threat to Great Barrier Reef Effort”
Comment by Travel Australia — April 14, 2010 @ 9:12 am
Great Barrier Reef is major tourist attraction for the Australia from all around the world. This very bad for the corals of reef, it effects on the atmosphere of reef.
Comment by Last Minute Deals — November 24, 2010 @ 2:26 pm
Where ever one may travel, he or she can get in touch with many different peoples and cultures. It is beneficial to see other ways of living in order to improve our own.
If you want inspiration or just a plain and simple get away from it all, seeing and living (even for short periods) in different towns and cities, different landscapes will surely help you.
Saint Augustine (famous Christian Theologian from ancient Rome),once said: “The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.”
I think he was right.