Bulk coal carrier hauled off Great Barrier Reef

BRISBANE - The bulk coal carrier stranded on the Great Barrier Reef has been refloated.

The 230-metre Chinese vessel, the Shen Neng 1, ran aground on Douglas Shoal off Rockhampton on April 3, spilling at least two tonnes of oil.

A spokesman for Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) said yesterday the vessel had been refloated around 8pm (10pm NZT) and so far there were no signs of any more oil spilling.

"They have moved it to a position off the shoal.

"It has been stabilised and will probably be floating there for another hour," he said.

Salvage crews would decide whether the vessel was fit to be towed to an anchorage area about 9km northeast of Great Keppel Island without spilling any more oil.

Authorities are keen to move the vessel before the weather deteriorates.

Most of the 970 tonnes of heavy fuel oil aboard the ship had already been pumped out ahead of the refloating attempt, but there had remained a chance of a further spill.

Meanwhile, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has announced new laws to boost penalties for ships causing oil spills.

Ms Bligh said yesterday she would this week introduce new laws imposing penalties of up to $10 million for ships spilling oil.

She said the maximum penalty for corporations would increase by five times, from $1.75 million, while individuals would face up to a $500,000 fine - up from $350,000.

The penalties would apply also when oil spills in commonwealth waters drifted into state waters and washed up on the state's coastline.

Ms Bligh said the penalties would be equal to the toughest in the country.

"This increase in penalties will send a message to the thousands of ship crews who pass through Queensland waters that nothing but the greatest attention to safety and care will be tolerated," she said.

- AAP