Questions and answers about the Shen Neng 1
Why was the Shen Neng 1 taken to Hervey Bay?
Taking the ship to the calm waters of Hervey Bay is the safest, cleanest and fastest way to get it out of Queensland waters entirely. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority directed the vessel into Hervey Bay because it offered the safest all-round option for removing enough coal so the ship could be safely towed overseas as soon as possible.
Why wasn’t the ship taken to Port of Gladstone instead?
The attempt by salvage experts to take the vessel into the Port of Gladstone was unsuccessful. During that attempt five tow-lines snapped. Maritime experts determined that attempting to take the vessel into the port again could put lives at risk and present unacceptable environmental risks.
Is the ship sinking?
No. Before it left Gladstone the ship was taking on around 10 tonnes of water a day. While any extra water on board may impact how the vessel sits in the water, before the ship moved salvors removed 1,900 tonnes of oil and oily water. In addition the oily water separator has been used to offload additional water.
How long will it take to unload coal from the Shen Neng 1?
About 19,000 tonnes of coal will initially be removed from the vessel before any attempt to tow it overseas is made. This process will take at least two weeks. While the transfer could be done significantly faster, we are undertaking a step-by-step based approach to minimise the chance of any coal finding its way into the water.
What monitoring will be in place while the operation is underway?
Numerous maritime monitoring and oil response vessels will be in place while the operation is underway. This will include vessels with boom equipment on board to help contain any oil spill. Aerial surveillance of the ship and surrounding seas will also be undertaken twice a day. The Department of Environment and Resource Management will have marine park vessels from Cairns and Brisbane on site as part of the preparedness for any response required.
What’s the impact of coal on a marine environment?
Coal is relatively inert but if there is a large amount of coal spills from the ship, it could smother marine life in the localised area.
What’s the impact of coal dust on a marine environment?
Coal dust can impact on the marine environment in two ways. It can be suspended in the water which could cause ‘shadowing’, restricting sunlight getting through to seabed. This is especially important for light-dependant seagrass species and corals. Coal dust which settles on the seabed in large quantities can smother marine plants and animals that live and/or feed on the seabed.
Does coal present as much a risk of pollution as oil?
Generally, no. An equivalent amount of coal would not present as much risk as oil, but a large amount of coal would potentially be of greater risk than a small amount of oil. The impact would be different as significant quantities of oil would cause an immediate impact on wildlife and foreshores while significant quantities of coal could cause a longer term impact on the marine environment because of smothering.
Will coal dust have any impact on birds in the area?
Minimal as it would not coat the feathers in the same way that oil would, and any coal dust ingested would pass through the digestive system, unlike oil which could block the digestive system and have greater toxicity implications.
Will coal dust have any impact on turtles, dugong or dolphins?
Any coal dust ingested would most likely pass through the digestive system with minimal toxicity effects. Coal dust washed ashore is unlikely to affect turtle hatcheries. If coal dust could smother seagrass across large areas this may affect local dugong and turtle populations that rely on these marine plants as a food resource. Hervey Bay is rich in seagrass meadows however and a large amount of seagrass would have to be impacted for this to happen.
