Great Barrier Reef under threat from oil spill

A ribbon of oil snakes away from the Chinese-registered 230m-long bulk coal carrier Shen Neng 1, off the coast of Rockhampton, Australia. Photo / AP

BRISBANE - A floating boom will be used to contain any more oil that leaks from a coal carrier stranded on a shoal in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Salvage experts are aboard the Shen Neng 1, offshore from Rockhampton where it's being battered against the shoal it rammed at top speed on Saturday while about 30km off course.

A tug is battling to keep the vessel from grinding against the bottom and spilling more oil. A second tug was expected to arrive last night.

Maritime Safety Queensland says there's still a risk the 230m vessel could break up, sending 65,000 tonnes of coal and 950 tonnes of heavy fuel oil into the sea.

Federal authorities have launched an investigation into why the Chinese-registered ship was inside a restricted zone of the marine park, so far from the shipping channels.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says authorities should throw the book at the ship's owners and captain, saying there appears to have been blatant breaches of Australian shipping laws.

"This ship has acted illegally going into these restricted areas [of the marine park]," she said.

"The [state] Government is now investigating how this happened and I hope, frankly, they throw the book at them."

She said the shipping company could be fined A$1 million ($1.3 million) and the ship's captain A$250,000.

MSQ said the vessel was owned by Shenzhen Energy, a subsidiary of the Cosco Group - China's largest shipping company.

Comment is being sought from the company.

Bligh expected the boom to be in place around the ship, on Douglas Shoal 70km east of Great Keppel Island, today.

"Our number one priority is keeping this oil off the barrier reef and keeping it contained," she said.

About two tonnes of fuel oil have already spilled, creating a slick about 3km long and 100m wide. Chemical dispersants have been used to help break it up.

Earlier yesterday, MSQ said an inspection at first light showed little or no additional oil had leaked into the sea since Sunday.

- AAP