World’s ‘most ambitious coral reef clean up’ off Qld coast

After more than a decade a section of the Great Barrier Reef scarred by a Chinese coal ship running aground is set to receive the world’s “most ambitious and large-scale coral reef clean up”.

The “most ambitious and large-scale coral reef clean-up” ever undertaken in the world is being planned to finally repair part of the Great Barrier Reef, which was devastated by a Chinese coal carrier running aground more than a decade ago.

The Shen Neng 1 ship created global headlines when it crashed into the Douglas Shoal area of the reef east of Rockhampton in 2010 causing more than 40ha of damage.

Chinese coal carrier Shen Neng 1 after it ran aground on Douglas Shoals inside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Picture: Supplied, Wolter Peeters

Taxpayers will not be forking out for the remediation works, with $20 million for this massive undertaking coming from a 2016 out-of-court settlement with the ship’s owners Shenzhen Energy Transport.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is poised to push ahead with a major 12 week rehabilitation to clear the trail of debris, clean up contaminants and conduct small habitat recovery steps in a bid to breath life back into the scarred section of the reef.

“There are no known precedents for remediation on this scale,” a GBRMPA spokesman said.

“The Douglas Shoal environmental remediation project is one of the most ambitious and large-scale coral reef clean-ups every undertaken globally.”

A survey of the site in 2019 showed very little natural recovery had occurred as the antifouling paint from the ship and loose rubble were creating barriers.

The 225m ship lost 20 tonnes of antifouling paint, which is applied to hulls to prevent the growth of marine plants, in the incident.

The GBRMPA spokesman said there were a number of difficulties that had caused the delay in getting the project underway.

A diver for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, at edge of the scar, showing an area cleared by the ships hull, after scarring at Douglas Shoal by grounded coal carrier Shen Neng 1. Picture: Supplied by Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

“The size of the grounding footprint at Douglas Shoal, its remoteness and difficult sea conditions commonly experienced … means the remediation is logistically challenging and must be carefully planned for the safety of workers and for the protection of the environment,” he said.

Initial works are expected to begin over 12 weeks between the middle of this year and mid-2023, with further removal and disposal of sediment to happen in 2023 or 2024.

The section of the reef is known to be home to 164 species of fish, sharks and rays, 30 species of coral and 50 other protected species include marine turtles, seabirds and whales.

While the initial court settlement was $35 million, $20 million is going towards this project.

The GBRMPA spokesman said all the funds from the settlement would be used solely for remediation of the shoal, with other projects going towards in-water surveys, project planning, options analysis and contract management.

The project is being assessed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works.

Originally published as World’s ‘most ambitious coral reef clean up’ off Qld coast