An Australian state leader yesterday said she would sharply increase penalties on ships causing oil spills after a vessel ran aground and leaked fuel oil on the Great Barrier Reef more than a week ago.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said the maximum penalty for corporations would increase from A$1.75 million (US$1.64 million) to A$10 million, and individuals would face fines of A$500,000 — up from A$350,000.
Salvage crews continued working to remove 950 tonnes of heavy fuel oil from the Shen Neng 1, which slammed into a shoal in the world’s largest coral reef more than a week ago after veering into protected waters in Queensland territory.
The proposed new penalties are the latest sign that authorities are serious about stepping up protection of the fragile reef.
“This increase in penalties will send a message to the thousands of ship crews who pass through Queensland waters that nothing but the greatest attention to safety and care will be tolerated,” Bligh said.
The legislation will be introduced to state parliament this week.
Yesterday, three crewmen from another boat that allegedly entered restricted reef waters on April 4 appeared in Townsville Magistrates Court on charges of entering a prohibited zone of the reef without permission.
The South Korean master and two Vietnamese officers of the Panama-flagged coal boat MV Mimosa were granted bail and ordered to reappear on Friday. They face maximum fines of A$220,000.
Officials have expressed outrage over the Chinese ship’s grounding, with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd saying that any cargo ships entering restricted waters of the reef will face the full force of Australian law.
“If we have any foreign vessel or any vessel violating the proper protection of the Great Barrier Reef, they should have the book thrown at them,” Rudd told reporters on Sunday.
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