SYDNEY—A number of Australian beaches North and East of Brisbane have been covered in oil after a damaged cargo ship leaked up to 30 tonnes of fuel oil.
The oil leaked from the cargo ship Pacific Adventurer, which was holed when it lost 31 containers of ammonium nitrate overboard in rough seas whipped up by Cyclone Hamish on March 11.
The ship’s hull was damaged during the spill in the rough seas. Early reports say 30 tonnes of oil leaked from the ship after a falling container breached the hull.
The aerial searches have failed to find any sign of the containers.
Dr. Michael White from the Centre of Marine Studies at the University of Queensland says the ammonium nitrate leak will not seriously harm the bay.
“The last time we had a really big fertiliser spill ... all that happened was the kelp grew to 30 feet and it was normally only five feet high,” he said.
Michael Short from the Environmental Protection Agency says the oil slick is a greater concern than the lost cargo.
“There is oil on the surface so that can have an impact on beach environments and wildlife, so that’s where our focus is,” he said.
