MORE than 10 ships a month use the short-cut taken by the ill-fated Shen Neng 1, and authorities do nothing to stop them.
The figures come after it was revealed the Chinese bulk carrier had lodged its shipping plan, detailing a short-cut beneath Douglas Shoal, with maritime authorities before leaving Gladstone.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said no one saw the plan, because the policy was to leave the route to the "discretion of the ship's captain".
AMSA spokeswoman Tracey Jiggins said the federal authority did not have to approve the shipping plan.
"We take the plan as part of a search-and-rescue process," she said, adding that the plan was not seen until the ship ran aground, just under six nautical miles off the short-cut course.
AMSA criticised the Shen Neng 1 crew, saying any "competent and alert" watch-keeping officer should be capable of navigating the waters, even those of the short-cut.
Ship grounded: 'Food the problem, not oil spill'
Shen Neng 1: Channel? What shipping channel?
.End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
In a statement, AMSA said there was "sufficient sea room to manoeuvre the ship to avoid collision, water depths of approximately 40m and navigational aides to assist in position fixing".
The statement also said "there are no recommended routes".
But, just 24 hours earlier, Maritime Safety Queensland general manager Patrick Quirk said the short-cut route was not "best practice" and posed a higher risk than the northern route.
It has also emerged the ship's owner, Cosco, had a chequered history, with three major incidents in as many years.
In November 2007, a Cosco ship spilled 1826 tonnes of oil into San Francisco Bay, and last year the company was responsible for Norway's worst oil spill on record.
Australian Marine Conservation spokesman Darren Kindleysides said despite claims the Reef was easy to navigate, the Cosco incident indicated the potential for disaster was too great for authorities to ignore.
"The grounding of the Shen Neng 1 shows the Reef is not protected adequately from shipping," Mr Kindleysides said.
"This incident must spur the Government to ensure the Reef is better safeguarded from the growth in shipping traffic that has resulted from the resources boom in Queensland."
According to the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority, despite the increase in traffic, over the past 10 years there have been three or fewer major shipping incidents each year.
But Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said he was prepared to toughen shipping requirements in the wake of the incident.
Meanwhile, up to 150 tonnes of heavy oil could still wash up on Queensland beaches if efforts to save the stranded Shen Neng 1 are not successful, Transport Minister Rachel Nolan.
The revelation came as authorities reversed a decision to move 150 tonnes of oil in a breached compartment to a safer area of the ship, after small leaks from the bulk carrier ceased.
Two heavy-lifting helicopters will take pumps and compressors between Rockhampton and the stranded ship, while a smaller vessel carrying boom equipment will set off as early as today.
Current plans are to refloat the Shen Neng 1 with its cargo of 65,000 tonnes of coal, estimated to be worth about $15 million, on board.
Responding to the Shen Neng 1 crisis has cost the Queensland Government at least $1 million so far.
Ms Nolan said computer modelling showed in a "worst-case scenario" Queensland's beaches could still be under threat.
"Computer modelling shows that 150 tonnes could wash up at Cape Manifold in two to three days, and so we're preparing a number of initiatives that will ensure we are ready for that eventuality," she said.
Ms Nolan said the 50m bunker barge Larcom, which would leave Gladstone today, would be used to pump the total 975 tonnes of heavy oil from the stricken vessel.
"This remains a precarious situation, and one of the most delicate operations in recent marine history is about to get under way," Ms Nolan said.
She said she was "furious" at reports the captain of the Shen Neng 1 did not believe the oil leak was serious.
Bri*****ane's Chinese Consular-General Ren Gongping said that the ship's captain, Wang Jichang, was under "a lot of stress" over the grounding of the ship and the salvage effort.
He said Captain Wang was "happy to co-operate" with the Queensland Government over the investigation.
The figures come after it was revealed the Chinese bulk carrier had lodged its shipping plan, detailing a short-cut beneath Douglas Shoal, with maritime authorities before leaving Gladstone.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said no one saw the plan, because the policy was to leave the route to the "discretion of the ship's captain".
AMSA spokeswoman Tracey Jiggins said the federal authority did not have to approve the shipping plan.
"We take the plan as part of a search-and-rescue process," she said, adding that the plan was not seen until the ship ran aground, just under six nautical miles off the short-cut course.
AMSA criticised the Shen Neng 1 crew, saying any "competent and alert" watch-keeping officer should be capable of navigating the waters, even those of the short-cut.
Ship grounded: 'Food the problem, not oil spill'
Shen Neng 1: Channel? What shipping channel?
.End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
In a statement, AMSA said there was "sufficient sea room to manoeuvre the ship to avoid collision, water depths of approximately 40m and navigational aides to assist in position fixing".
The statement also said "there are no recommended routes".
But, just 24 hours earlier, Maritime Safety Queensland general manager Patrick Quirk said the short-cut route was not "best practice" and posed a higher risk than the northern route.
It has also emerged the ship's owner, Cosco, had a chequered history, with three major incidents in as many years.
In November 2007, a Cosco ship spilled 1826 tonnes of oil into San Francisco Bay, and last year the company was responsible for Norway's worst oil spill on record.
Australian Marine Conservation spokesman Darren Kindleysides said despite claims the Reef was easy to navigate, the Cosco incident indicated the potential for disaster was too great for authorities to ignore.
"The grounding of the Shen Neng 1 shows the Reef is not protected adequately from shipping," Mr Kindleysides said.
"This incident must spur the Government to ensure the Reef is better safeguarded from the growth in shipping traffic that has resulted from the resources boom in Queensland."
According to the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority, despite the increase in traffic, over the past 10 years there have been three or fewer major shipping incidents each year.
But Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said he was prepared to toughen shipping requirements in the wake of the incident.
Meanwhile, up to 150 tonnes of heavy oil could still wash up on Queensland beaches if efforts to save the stranded Shen Neng 1 are not successful, Transport Minister Rachel Nolan.
The revelation came as authorities reversed a decision to move 150 tonnes of oil in a breached compartment to a safer area of the ship, after small leaks from the bulk carrier ceased.
Two heavy-lifting helicopters will take pumps and compressors between Rockhampton and the stranded ship, while a smaller vessel carrying boom equipment will set off as early as today.
Current plans are to refloat the Shen Neng 1 with its cargo of 65,000 tonnes of coal, estimated to be worth about $15 million, on board.
Responding to the Shen Neng 1 crisis has cost the Queensland Government at least $1 million so far.
Ms Nolan said computer modelling showed in a "worst-case scenario" Queensland's beaches could still be under threat.
"Computer modelling shows that 150 tonnes could wash up at Cape Manifold in two to three days, and so we're preparing a number of initiatives that will ensure we are ready for that eventuality," she said.
Ms Nolan said the 50m bunker barge Larcom, which would leave Gladstone today, would be used to pump the total 975 tonnes of heavy oil from the stricken vessel.
"This remains a precarious situation, and one of the most delicate operations in recent marine history is about to get under way," Ms Nolan said.
She said she was "furious" at reports the captain of the Shen Neng 1 did not believe the oil leak was serious.
Bri*****ane's Chinese Consular-General Ren Gongping said that the ship's captain, Wang Jichang, was under "a lot of stress" over the grounding of the ship and the salvage effort.
He said Captain Wang was "happy to co-operate" with the Queensland Government over the investigation.
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