Anti-barnacle Paint from Coal Tanker Continues to Kill Great Barrier Corals Along Two-Mile Crash Scar

Anti-barnacle paint from the Chinese coal tanker that tore a 3-kilometer (2-mile) gash in the Great Barrier Reef last week is continuing to kill corals even though the ship has been towed away. Initial reports indicated that the primary threat to the reefs was the oil leaking from the tanker’s hull. That may not be the case.

Quick Recap of the Chinese Tanker Takes Illegal Shortcut, Crashes into Great Barrier Reef Story

If you missed this story, and it got less coverage in the United States than I would have hoped given the massive amount of damage done to a World Heritage site, you might not have heard about how a Chinese coal tanker ship 12 kilometers off course from established, legal shipping lanes crashed into the Great Barrier Reef off Australia.

The crash damaged the hull, causing a fuel leak and threatening to sink the vessel. In the days the tanker was stranded on the reef while rescue operations tried to figure out how to safely tow the boat away without leaking more fuel or causing the ship to break apart, the tanker was dragged two miles along the reef, tearing up coral and leaving paint scrapings behind.

Environmental Implications of Tanker Crash on Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef covers about 346,000 square kilometers from Cape York in northern Queensland, Australia to Bundaberg in the south. Much of it is marine reserve and shipping is prohibited in the area.

“Its ecosystem supports the greatest concentration of life on this planet with its resident marine life including 1,500 species of fish, 350 different kinds of coral, 4000 species of molluscs and 10,000 species of sponges. It also provides breeding areas for humpback whales, sea turtles dugong and seabirds. Hundreds of species of algae, including seaweeds, also live on the reef as a vital part of the reef system.”
– DivingCairns.com.au

Under even the best circumstances, a 3-kilometer gash in the reef would take decades to heal. Add in the effects of global warming, general pollution, and poison deposited on the reef by the tanker, and the situation is grim.

Initial reports on environmental consequences of the crash focused on the leaking fuel, but that may have only minor impacts. Officials used “dispersants” to keep the fuel off the reef life, but couldn’t prevent the paint scrapings from falling on the corals. The anti-barnacle paint from the ships hull may continue to kill corals along the 3-kilometer crash scar for weeks or months. CNN’s headline writers sufficiently captured the gravity of the situation with: “Ship’s paint brings instant death to Great Barrier Reef.“

Australia to Prosecute Crew and Shipping Company in Reef Disaster

In an example of extremely inadequate headline writing, the Sydney Morning Herald reported “GPS error led to reef disaster.” Um. The global positioning system warning alarms didn’t go off because the pilot/crew didn’t put their little shortcut into the system. That’s not a GPS error.

Australia arrested three crew members and will fine both individuals and the company for their actions here. But that hardly seems adequate now does it?

Yellowbanded sweetlips fish on the Great Barrier Reef by Matt Kieffer.

quick poll

vote now!

Loading poll...

no!
leaning no
leaning yes
yes!

no!
leaning no
leaning yes
yes!

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Colin H.

5:10AM PDT on Oct 21, 2010

Noted and signed!!

send a green star

Amber K.

12:48PM PDT on May 10, 2010

Sad news. Thanks for sharing.

Kurt V.

7:12AM PDT on Apr 25, 2010

Please sign this petition to support marine health implementations
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/marine-health-implementations

7:07AM PDT on Apr 25, 2010

7:06AM PDT on Apr 25, 2010

Charmaine C.

6:34AM PDT on Apr 24, 2010

The Australians have kept the GBF pristine for so long and this happens because some moron takes a short cut! The captain had to be completely clueless to not realise that when sailing in those waters the barrier reef is close by? Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

johan l.

1:25AM PDT on Apr 24, 2010

I have left a comment before so now all I want to know is, why should the ship be dragged over the coral reefs?
Surely the direction it came from is the way it should be dragged.
Not 2kms over the coral reefs!
Maybe I do not have the correct facts, but it looks completely wrong the way this terrible tragedy is being tackled!

8:36AM PDT on Apr 21, 2010

this is horrible..we need to do something!!

9:30PM PDT on Apr 19, 2010

We have to stop killing the living creatures that keep our earth healthy and alive!!! We need to take the time to do things that will care for the earth. If we do not we will have no earth left. There is a chain reaction when one thing is damaged because we are all connected. Reckless irresponsible short cuts for profit instead of care for our earth and people must change. If we don't we already are in the process of watching the earth die. what do you want to leave your children, and polluted desert with a few rich people or a beautiful thriving planet and people??? Decide now because we don't have much time left.

Evelyn M.

6:18PM PDT on Apr 19, 2010

Thanks for the research.