Chinese vessel touched ground...

[Robbie]

around Great Berrier Reef.

It just concerns me; its sad.

Furthermore the vessel did not use the usual shipping route...

[Jarreaus]

There was a big press confrence on this the other day and I am pleased to announce that all on board that vessel have been given massive fines and possible prison sentences. The sad news is that another vessel did the same thing not long after this. The people on the other vessel has also received fines and possible jail time.
The most sad thing about all of this is that it could have been avoided.
Let me make it clear people that the Great Barrier Reef will not be Great if these sorts of things happen.
A lot of oil has washed onto beaches and there has been massive damage done to not only Australian Tourism but also the coral and it will have a massive impact on mammals and wildlife.
It will take at least 10-30 years for the damge to repair itself.

[ashley4]

8(( What a total Muppet! He’s going to get heavy fine and a few points on his, captains licence. Most likely banned for a few years from shipping.

Australia arrests crew of China Barrier Reef ship
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/8619343.stm

“They took an illegal short.”

Wow they are going down for this.

20 years for it to recover.

One nature’s great colour marine wonders vandalized.

Wow, this is like only one day short of the “Titanic” sinking April 15th 1912 and these idiots running the ship aground and tearing gash in the reef up to 1 kilometre long. sigh