2010 Great Barrier Reef oil spill
The 2010 Great Barrier Reef oil spill occurred on 3 April 2010, when the Chinese bulk coal carrier, MV Shen Neng 1 ran aground east of Rockhampton in Central Queensland, Australia. The vessel is owned by Shenzhen Energy Transport Co. Ltd.
| 2010 Great Barrier Reef oil spill | |
|---|---|
MV Shen Neng 1 aground, April 2010 | |
| Location | Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, Queensland, Australia |
| Coordinates | 23.101667°S 151.649167°E |
| Date | 3 April 2010 |
| Cause | |
| Cause | The grounding of MV Shen Neng 1 on Douglas Shoal off Great Keppel Island |
| Operator | Shenzhen Energy |
| Spill characteristics | |
| Volume | 20 to 30 m3 (710 to 1,060 cu ft) |
| Area | 3 km (1.9 mi) |
The ship was more than 10 km outside the shipping lane. It struck the reef late in the afternoon of 3 April, scraping along the reef for a considerable distance and creating the longest known grounding scar on the Great Barrier Reef. Tugs were sent to remove the ship which was feared would break apart in rough seas. Eventually, the vessel was refloated and taken to Hervey Bay. After unloading about a third of its cargo Shen Neng 1 was towed to Singapore. The ship's captain and officer-on-watch were both charged. The maximum fine for shipping companies that cause damage to the reef was increased after the incident.