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Hi Birding-aussers, I'm surprised this hasn't
gotten a mention yet but I first heard about it as I woke up to the radio this
morning. HMS Nottingham after delivering a sick sailor to Lord Howe Island ran
aground on departure, on Wolf Rocks just a few Ks away. Early reports were
sketchy but to me with my Navy experience, a flooded mess quarters forward meant
probable damage to fuel tanks.
I've just read a more up todate report on ninemsn
and my fears were well grounded. Locals report a substantial slick, it appears a
lot of fuel just spilled out the bottom. Most Aussie warships converted to light
fuel some time ago but this vessel appears to be operating on Furnace Fuel Oil,
heavy crude.
This is slap bang in the middle of Providence
Petrel season, hopefully their foraging grounds are further afield but I should
imagine there is going to be some major kills with other seabirds also. I heard
one radio report saying a pollutant control team was being rushed out, lets hope
they get into action real quick, this could be horrendous. What also sickened me
was a local quoted as saying that this was all most exciting with not much going
on at Lord Howe at the moment. Cheers - Paul Walbridge.
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