Tugs free Greek bulk carrier from Australian reef
Date: 07-Aug-02
Country: AUSTRALIA
Clay Frederick, head of salvage firm Adsteam Marine Limited , said three tugs gently pulled the Doric Chariot off Piper Reef, which lies within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, set up to protect the earth's largest living organism.
"She's afloat, it went according to plan," Frederick told Reuters. A fourth tug had been on standby.
The refloating of the bulk carrier, laden with 62,000 tonnes of coal for an Indian client, 375 tonnes of fuel oil and 37 tonnes of diesel, was achieved before high tide after the salvage crew lightened the bow of the vessel.
Frederick said there did not appear to have been any leakage of fuel or cargo during the operation and the only visible sign of damage was "a little bit of a dent" in the bow.
The grounding of the 225-metre bulk carrier 600 km (370 miles) north of Cairns has generated renewed concerns about protecting the environmentally fragile Great Barrier Reef, one of Australia's main tourist attractions.
Environmental officials are calling for a greater obligatory use of local pilots, even though the Doric Chariot had a pilot on board at the time of the incident on July 29.
They also say the vessel's owners, who have apologised for the accident, could face fines of up to A$1.1 million (US$600,000) if Piper Reef suffers any environmental damage.
Oil spill equipment had been deployed just in case, and the vessel would now be towed to a safe anchorage nearby for an underwater inspection on Wednesday. Any further steps were up to the authorities, Frederick said.
The grounding of the Doric Chariot was the third major shipping incident in waters off Queensland in two years.
In November 2000, the 21,000-tonne Bunga Teratai Satu, a Malaysian freighter laden with fuel and toxic cargo, ran aground on Sudbury Reef, 50 km (30 miles) east of Cairns. Three coral outcroppings had to be demolished to free the vessel.
Last month a Liberian-flagged container ship, the 37,000-tonne ANL Excellence, ran aground in Moreton Bay, at the entrance to Brisbane harbour.
Piper Reef itself has been struck before when the Panamanian-flagged MV Peacock ran aground there in July 1996.
