Salvage crews are conducting more tests this morning before deciding whether to refloat a bulk coal ship grounded on the Great Barrier Reef off the central Queensland coast.

The Chinese ship, Shen Neng 1, ran aground on Douglas Shoal, east of Rockhampton, nine days ago on Easter Saturday.

Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) says crews are testing the ship’s ballast tanks this morning.

Crews say if the water is clear of oil, then air will be pumped into the tanks to help refloat the ship.

But the salvage crews are keeping a close eye on the weather, which is expected to get rough over the next 24 hours.

A low is expected to develop in the area tomorrow, whipping up winds of up to 30 knots.

MSQ spokesman Patrick says two high tides tonight and tomorrow morning provide windows for a refloat before the weather turns rough.

But he says some tests need to be conducted first.

“Part of the refloating technology is to pressurise some tanks to push some water out and give those tanks buoyancy which helps us float the vessel off the shoal,” he said.

“We have a concern that oil may have spread to a limited amount into some of those tanks, so we need to pressurise those tanks one by one, to ensure when we do pressurise them up as part of the flotation exercise that they are free of oil.”

Oil spill preparations

Crews have been stationed on Heron and Great Keppel Islands off central Queensland ahead of the planned refloating.

Queensland Transport Minister Rachel Nolan says some oil will remain on the boat.

On Saturday, about 50 litres of oil leaked into the water during the pumping transfer.

She says the crews will be ready to clean up any oil that spills and washes up on the islands.

“There’s obviously the oil in the bunkers, but there’s also oil in the engine room which has been flooded with water, so this exercise is about getting the oil out of the tanks,” she said.

“It’s not going to be possible to get every last drop of oil off such an enormous ship and that’s why we’ve got these other measures in place.

“We will get the vast majority of it, but it’s possible there will be some small amount of oil that ends up in the water from the refloating.

“That’s why we’ve got those booms set up and that’s why we’re sending crews out there to be on the spot should anything happen.”

Investigation

Meanwhile, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) confirmed on the weekend it has launched an investigation into the Shen Neng 1 grounding.

In a statement, the AFP said it launched an investigation after a request by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA).

As well as the Shen Neng 1 grounding on the reef, in another incident, three men have been charged with sailing a coal carrier into a restricted part of the reef.

Three foreign sailors will appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court in north Queensland this morning charged with entering restricted waters on the Great Barrier Reef.

AFP searched the Asian-owned MV Mimosa yesterday and seized navigational equipment and charts.

The three sailors from Korea and Vietnam were arrested and taken off the ship.

‘Get tough’

Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese also says the Federal Government is ready to get tough on foreign ships using Australian waters and ports.

Mr Albanese says he will be receiving recommendations from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (ASMA) on Thursday and he intends to act quickly.

“It is time to get tough – we are quite prepared to take whatever measures are required,” he said.

“The cost will not be a consideration at all because the cost of damage to our reef incalculable – not just in economic terms – but on environmental terms for future generations.”

The Federal Government says it is strongly considering introducing a system similar to air traffic control to guide foreign ships in and out of Australia.

Mr Albanese says something must be done to stop ships taking short cuts through the reef.

“AMSA will be reporting this week to the Government on policy options and changes – whether that be the option of pilotage or reef VTS [vessel tracking system] the equivalent of introducing the air traffic control system that occurs for airlines in the southern part of the reef,” he said.