Here is an edited version of an article in the breaking news section of THE
AUSTRALIAN.
Terry Pacey
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Stranded ship poison paint fear
July 31, 2002
POISONOUS anti-fouling paint from a grounded ship threatened to rub off on
to sensitive areas of the Great Barrier Reef.
The ship, carrying a load of coal bound for India, ran aground on a sandbar
off Piper Reef, 600km north of Cairns on Monday.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) chairwoman Virginia
Chadwick said today there were no indications the area would be damaged by
cargo or an oil spill.
But anti-fouling paint, which is laced with poison to stop marine growths
sticking to the hull, could be rubbing off, she said.
"Commonsense says that if a boat has hit the reef and sand, then its
anti-foulant will have rubbed off," said Mrs Chadwick.
"And by definition anti-fouling paint is meant to actually kill and so this
could have a very negative impact on coral."
Mrs Chadwick said the area was an important bird rookery, turtle hatching
site and fishing area for the local indigenous community.
"It is a sensitive area," she said.
Norman Bally, council chairman for the nearby Aboriginal community of
Lockhart River, said residents were worried about the possibility of
pollution.
"Most of our people fish off this part of the sea," he
said.....................................
........................................Environment Minister David Kemp said
another group would soon be sent to check for environmental damage but there
appeared to be none....................................................
...............................A GBRMPA report of the Sudbury Reef clean-up
said sediment particles carrying anti-fouling chemicals were found at least
250m east of the hull scar.
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