This week Australian authorities arrested and charged the master and officer on watch of the Chinese coal carrier that ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef.
The ship veered off course in early April in what the government has said was a dangerous and potentially catastrophic effort to save time on the ship’s voyage. The ship strayed about 15 nautical miles from regular shipping lanes before plowing full speed into Douglas Shoal on April 3. The ship leaked about 1,000 gallons of oil spread over 2 miles.
Workers successfully this week moved the 750-foot Shen Neng 1 coal transport ship off the shoal without adding to the current slick.