MV Shen Neng 1
Encyclopedia
MV Shen Neng 1 is a Chinese
bulk carrier
which was built in 1993 as Bestore. She was sold in 2007 and renamed Shen Neng 1. In 2010, she ran aground off Great Keppel Island
, Australia
spilling oil into Great Barrier Reef
waters.
in 1993. She is 225 metre long overall, with a beam of 32.66 metre and a draught of 13.29 metre. Her air draught is 41.68 m (136.7 ft). The ship is powered by a 2-stroke Single Action 6-cylinder Sulzer 6RTA62
diesel engine driving a single screw propeller. The engine can propel her at 13.5 knots (26.5 km/h).
. She was sold for in 2007, and was renamed as Shen Neng 1, meaning "Shenzhen Energy" in Chinese, when sold to Shenzhen Energy in 2007. Her callsign is BXAN. She was allocated IMO number 9040871, and the MMSI 413461550. The ship is owned by Shenzhen Energy Transportation Co. Ltd, a subsidiary of Shenzhen Energy, whose logo appears on her funnel, and is managed by TOSCO‐KEYMAX International Ship Management Co. Ltd , a Sino-Japanese joint venture, and carries a crew of 23.
to China carrying a cargo of 65,000 tonnes of coal
, she ran aground 70 kilometres (37.8 nmi) off Great Keppel Island
, Australia
. At the time of the grounding, Shen Neng 1 was reported to have been travelling at full speed. She was severely damaged on her port side, and a 3 kilometres (1.6 nmi) long oil slick was later reported to have been seen. The ship's engine and rudder were damaged in the grounding. The ship went aground 5.8 nmi (10.7 km; 6.7 mi) outside the shipping lane. It is in a restricted area which forms part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
, a World Heritage Site
designated by UNESCO
.
As a result of the grounding, the fuel tanks of the vessel were punctured, allowing fuel oil to leak from the vessel. It is feared that the ship may break in two. A salvage contract has been awarded to Svitzer, led by Drew Shannon (who was in charge of salving ), which has sent tugs
to the area. Shen Neng 1 was refloated on 12 April 2010, after forecasts of bad weather meant that the salvage operation was brought forward. There were reports that large areas of the coral reef were damaged by the ship. On 14 April, the captain and officer on watch at the time of the accident were arrested. They were charged and appeared in court on 15 April.
(AMSA) and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau
(ATSB). Queensland Premier
Anna Bligh
said that the Government
would be investigating why the ship was so far off route. It was reported that the ship's owner could be fined $1,000,000
and Shen Neng 1's captain $220,000.
The ATSB despatched three investigators to Gladstone, Queensland
on 4 April to collect evidence and conduct interviews. On 6 April they boarded the ship to interview the crew members and collect further evidence. The preliminary phase of the investigation is scheduled to take 28 days. A casualty co-ordinator from the AMSA boarded the ship. Three vessels were reported as giving assistance at the scene. The preliminary investigation has found fatigue as the major contributor to the grounding. Prior to the grounding there was no checks to ensure fatigue was minimized by the governing authorities (AMSA). A news story claimed that the ship was attempting to take a shortcut when it ran aground.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
bulk carrier
Bulk carrier
A bulk carrier, bulk freighter, or bulker is a merchant ship specially designed to transport unpackaged bulk cargo, such as grains, coal, ore, and cement in its cargo holds. Since the first specialized bulk carrier was built in 1852, economic forces have fueled the development of these ships,...
which was built in 1993 as Bestore. She was sold in 2007 and renamed Shen Neng 1. In 2010, she ran aground off Great Keppel Island
Great Keppel Island
Great Keppel Island lies 15 kilometres from the coast off Yeppoon, Central Queensland, Australia. The island is the largest of the eighteen islands in the Keppel Group, and covers an area of more than 14.5 square kilometres...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
spilling oil into Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world'slargest reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres over an area of approximately...
waters.
Construction
The ship was built by Sanoyas Hishino MeishoSanoyas Hishino Meisho
Sanoyas Hishino Meisho Corporation is a Japanese company that consists of four principal business groups and twelve affiliated companies. The business groups are: the Ship and Steel Structure Group, the Parking System & Engineering Group, the Construction Machines Group, and the Leisure Business...
in 1993. She is 225 metre long overall, with a beam of 32.66 metre and a draught of 13.29 metre. Her air draught is 41.68 m (136.7 ft). The ship is powered by a 2-stroke Single Action 6-cylinder Sulzer 6RTA62
Sulzer (manufacturer)
Sulzer Ltd. is a Swiss industrial engineering and manufacturing firm, founded by Salomon Sulzer-Bernet in 1775 and established as Sulzer Brothers Ltd. in 1834 in Winterthur, Switzerland. Today it is a publicly owned company with international subsidiaries...
diesel engine driving a single screw propeller. The engine can propel her at 13.5 knots (26.5 km/h).
History
Bestore was owned by Scinicariello Ship Management, ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. She was sold for in 2007, and was renamed as Shen Neng 1, meaning "Shenzhen Energy" in Chinese, when sold to Shenzhen Energy in 2007. Her callsign is BXAN. She was allocated IMO number 9040871, and the MMSI 413461550. The ship is owned by Shenzhen Energy Transportation Co. Ltd, a subsidiary of Shenzhen Energy, whose logo appears on her funnel, and is managed by TOSCO‐KEYMAX International Ship Management Co. Ltd , a Sino-Japanese joint venture, and carries a crew of 23.
Great Barrier Reef grounding
On 3 April 2010, Shen Neng 1 was transiting from Gladstone, QueenslandGladstone, Queensland
- Education :Gladstone has several primary schools, three high schools, and one university campus, Central Queensland University. It is also home to CQIT Gladstone Campus.- Recreation :...
to China carrying a cargo of 65,000 tonnes of coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
, she ran aground 70 kilometres (37.8 nmi) off Great Keppel Island
Great Keppel Island
Great Keppel Island lies 15 kilometres from the coast off Yeppoon, Central Queensland, Australia. The island is the largest of the eighteen islands in the Keppel Group, and covers an area of more than 14.5 square kilometres...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. At the time of the grounding, Shen Neng 1 was reported to have been travelling at full speed. She was severely damaged on her port side, and a 3 kilometres (1.6 nmi) long oil slick was later reported to have been seen. The ship's engine and rudder were damaged in the grounding. The ship went aground 5.8 nmi (10.7 km; 6.7 mi) outside the shipping lane. It is in a restricted area which forms part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park protects a large part of Australia's Great Barrier Reef from damaging activities. Fishing and the removal of artefacts or...
, a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
designated by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
.
As a result of the grounding, the fuel tanks of the vessel were punctured, allowing fuel oil to leak from the vessel. It is feared that the ship may break in two. A salvage contract has been awarded to Svitzer, led by Drew Shannon (who was in charge of salving ), which has sent tugs
Tugboat
A tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...
to the area. Shen Neng 1 was refloated on 12 April 2010, after forecasts of bad weather meant that the salvage operation was brought forward. There were reports that large areas of the coral reef were damaged by the ship. On 14 April, the captain and officer on watch at the time of the accident were arrested. They were charged and appeared in court on 15 April.
Investigation
Two investigations have been opened into the grounding. The investigations are being conducted by the Australian Maritime Safety AuthorityAustralian Maritime Safety Authority
Australian Maritime Safety Authority is responsible, on behalf of the Commonwealth Government of Australia, for the regulation and safety oversight of Australia's shipping fleet and management of Australia's international maritime obligations...
(AMSA) and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau
Australian Transport Safety Bureau
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is Australia’s national transport safety investigator. The ATSB is the federal government body responsible for investigating transport-related accidents and incidents within Australia. It covers air, sea and rail travel. The Australian Transport Safety...
(ATSB). Queensland Premier
Premiers of Queensland
Before the 1890s, there was no developed party system in Queensland. Political affiliation labels before that time indicate a general tendency only. Before the end of the first decade of the twentieth century, political parties were more akin to parliamentary factions, and were fluid, informal and...
Anna Bligh
Anna Bligh
Anna Maria Bligh is an Australian politician and the Premier of Queensland since 2007. The 2009 Queensland state election was the first time a female-led political party won or retained state or federal government in Australia...
said that the Government
Government of Queensland
The Government of Queensland is commonly known as the "Queensland Government".The form of the Government of Queensland is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1859, although it has been amended many times since then...
would be investigating why the ship was so far off route. It was reported that the ship's owner could be fined $1,000,000
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
and Shen Neng 1's captain $220,000.
The ATSB despatched three investigators to Gladstone, Queensland
Gladstone, Queensland
- Education :Gladstone has several primary schools, three high schools, and one university campus, Central Queensland University. It is also home to CQIT Gladstone Campus.- Recreation :...
on 4 April to collect evidence and conduct interviews. On 6 April they boarded the ship to interview the crew members and collect further evidence. The preliminary phase of the investigation is scheduled to take 28 days. A casualty co-ordinator from the AMSA boarded the ship. Three vessels were reported as giving assistance at the scene. The preliminary investigation has found fatigue as the major contributor to the grounding. Prior to the grounding there was no checks to ensure fatigue was minimized by the governing authorities (AMSA). A news story claimed that the ship was attempting to take a shortcut when it ran aground.
External links
- Shen Neng 1 at VesselTracker