Three ships are expected to leave the Gladstone Port in central Queensland on Thursday morning to begin pumping oil from a stricken coal carrier on the Great Barrier Reef.

Chinese coal ship Shen Neng 1 struck a southern part of the Reef over the weekend, rupturing a fuel tank and spilling more than two tonnes of oil into the water.

The remaining 950 tonnes of fuel oil still on board is expected to be pumped out in coming days.

Queensland Transport department spokesman Dave Stewart says moving the ship off the reef could take much longer.

“I can’t tell you at this stage how long that will take,” he said.

“This is a very sensitive and delicate operation – [it will take] weeks not days.”

He says authorities plan to tow the ship to clear waters where divers can inspect the damage before deciding what repairs are needed.

Shipping laws

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the Government will carefully consider changing the rules for shipping through the Great Barrier Reef.

Mr Rudd has repeated his belief that it is outrageous for the ship to have strayed off course in broad daylight.

He says the Government will consider extending a range of piloting and ship monitoring conditions put in place four years ago.

“I’m advised by the previous government, which took the pre-existing arrangements for pilotage and pre-existing arrangement for vessel tracking from the northern stretch of the Barrier Reef to include the Torres Strait, they did not at that stage extend that to the southern Barrier Reef where of course this problem has occurred with the Chinese vessel,” he said.

“Obviously one of the things for us now to examine carefully is the extension of that regime more broadly across the reef.

“We’re going to do this in a very considered way, given the fact that the Great Barrier Reef is too important for all of us to put at risk in the future.

“So let’s get the facts straight first and then act.”

Industry consultation

Australia’s peak shipping industry body wants the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments to consult with the industry on any changes to laws and regulations.

Shipping Australia chief executive Llew Russell says while tighter policing may be needed, the industry should get a say.

“The question of putting compulsory pilots on board for example is an issue that would have to go through the International Maritime Organisation and could take a long time,” he said.

“Also is that the best solution?

“[It's] one we’d like to discuss certainly with the Federal Government, and any other solutions that people have that may achieve a result that actually assists both industry and government.”

Clean-up crews ready

Dutch-based company Svitzer is handling the salvage operation and has flown in three planeloads of specialist equipment, including heavy duty pumps and compressors.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (ASMA) ship, the Pacific Responder, will put booms in place while oil is transferred.

Rockhampton Mayor Brad Carter says crews are on standby in case any oil reaches the coast but that is now unlikely.

Councillor Carter says 250 personnel are on standby.

“One of the key logistical issues that have to be addressed is flying people in and out into remote beach locations should an oil spill get onto the beaches,” he said.

“The issue of inclement weather, heavy seas or that system failing, there is still a risk so we are being super, super cautious.”

Maritime Safety Queensland says it will not be rushing salvage operations.

Crew competence

A former federal transport minister, Peter Morris, has raised concerns about the overall competence of crews on cargo ships.

Mr Morris has chaired the International Commission on Shipping and headed the “Ships of Shame” inquiry in the 1990s.

He says the declining level of competence is an international problem “because of the trend to constantly reduce costs and to push down the costs of operating ships”.

“What this really points to in a way is the lack of Australian participation in international trades,” he said.