Up to two decades for reef to recover from scarring

SYDNEY - A coal carrier that ran aground and leaked about 3 tonnes of oil on the Great Barrier Reef completely pulverised parts of a shoal and caused damage so severe it could take marine life 20 years to recover, the reef's chief scientist said yesterday.

Initial assessments by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority found the 230m Shen Neng 1 left a scar 3km long and up to 250m wide, said scientist David Wachenfeld, who is coordinating the authority's assessment of the ship's impact.

Tides and currents had pushed it along the reef, crushing and smearing potentially toxic paint onto coral and plants.

In some areas, "all marine life has been completely flattened and the structure of the shoal has been pulverised by the weight of the vessel," Wachenfeld said.

It will be at least another week before the full extent of the damage is known, but the area's recovery could take up to two decades, he said.

The vessel was lifted off the coral reef on Monday night after crews spent three days pumping fuel oil from the ship to lighten it.

Salvage crews towed it to an anchorage area near Great Keppel Island, 70km away.

- AP