Foreign ship that spilled 15 tonnes of oil in Great Barrier Reef will face fines of up to $17 million modicanews,com

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A foreign ship is set to face prosecution for allegedly spilling up to 15 tonnes of oil in the Great Barrier Reef 12 months ago.

Queensland maritime investigators say they have finally identified the ship responsible for spilling between 10 to 15 tonnes of oil near Cape Upstart, south east of Townsville, in July last year.

The spill cost $1.5 million to clean up after washing up on beaches along the North Queensland coast line. Investigators have spent the past 12 months trying to identify the ship. 

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A foreign ship is set to face prosecution for allegedly spilling up to 15 tonnes of oil in the Great Barrier Reef 12 months ago. Kawana Beach in Queensland was one of the worst hit places

Queensland Ports Minister Mark Bailey said the ship was foreign and described the spillage as ‘absolutely outrageous environmental vandalism’, according to the ABC.

‘It does appear to be a hit-and-run by a ship on the Queensland coastline near the reef. We want to bring it to justice and that’s exactly what we’re doing,’ Mr Bailey said. 

‘We have been relentless in pursuing them because clearly polluting our coastal waters and our reef is absolutely unacceptable and we’ve left no stone unturned to identify them and pursue them.’ 

Evidence linking the ship to the massive spill has been forwarded to the commonwealth director of public prosecutions.

It will be up to them to decide whether the operator of the ship should be charged.

Investigators were able to pinpoint 17 ships that could have been responsible for the spill 72 hours after it occurred. 

The spill cost $1.5 million to clean up after washing up on beaches along the north Queensland coast line like here in Rockhampton

But they then had to track down each individual ship to inspect records and test oil. Operators can be fined up to $11.78 million under Queensland law and $17 under Commonwealth law for discharge offences. 

Queensland’s worst spill took place in March, 2009, when 60 kilometres of coastline was covered by oil from the the MV Adventurer, which lost 100,000 litres of fuel in an accident.

More than 60kms, including Moreton Island, Bribie Island and southern parts of the Sunshine Coast, were declared ‘disaster zones’ as a result of the slick.

It took more than 16 months and 1425 people to clean up the spill, and cost more than $4 million.

 

 

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