Douglas Shoal on the Great Barrier Reef has been “pulverised” by the coal carrier Shen Neng 1, which gouged a furrow 3km long and 250m wide in the nine days it was stranded on the coral.
Scientists yesterday got their first good look at the reef since the bulk carrier was floated free on Monday night’s high tide after being grounded off Gladstone on Easter Saturday.
The major initial impact on the reef was that caused by the 100,000-tonne ship itself, as it rolled around on the coral for several days.
Authorities were last night also investigating whether oil found on North West Island, a bird rookery and turtle nesting site 10 nautical miles south of Douglas Shoal, came from the Chinese ship.
Full story: Coal carrier leaves 3km killing zone in its wake | The Australian