A ship was dash stranded in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is in hazard of crack and leaking more oil into the sea. A national oil leak response was started on Saturday following Chinese hold bulk carrier Shen Neng 1 dash stranded on the Douglas Shoal on Saturday evening.

The water transport was travelling at full speed in a confidential area of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, more than 13 nautical miles when it knocks the shoal. The five nautical mile prohibiting sector has been set up around the ship, with an Australian Maritime Safety Authority airplane or air transport directing passage through the zone said in a report by the Queensland Premier Anna Bligh.

 “The ship was cracked in the crash and was in danger of breaking apart and spilling its 975 tonnes of heavy fuel into the sea. It will require a serious and specialist salvage operation. This ship is in very damaged condition and the worry now is that the salvage operation may disturb the ship in a way that sees more oil discharged into the water.” said in a report by Ms Bligh.

The oil could probably wash up in the Shoal water Bay military training area in the next two days, but that was dependant on the effectiveness of the chemical dispersant. Dispersants are most effectual when used within 48 hours of leak and were sprayed in two separate deployments yesterday, one by a Rockhampton based light aircraft and a second yesterday afternoon on a slick measuring three kilometres by 100 metres.

Maritime Safety Queensland have been monitoring from the land and sea since the ship ran aground on Saturday, and had observed small quantities of oil around the ship. Captain Patrick Quirk, general manager of Maritime Safety Queensland. The ship was not expected to move without assistance and yesterday professional salvors have been employed by the ship owners. Ms Bligh said the Australian Transport Safety Bureau will be conducting a full investigation into the incident.

 “The Government is very conscious of the importance of the Great Barrier Reef environment and ensuring that impacts on its ecology are effectively managed,” said in a statement by Environment Minister Peter Garrett.