Shipping accidents can occur through collisions, groundings, foundering or stranding. Groundings and collisions make up around 45 per cent of shipping accidents. Contributing risk factors for either collision or grounding were categorised in the 1995 Department of Transport Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait Shipping Study. The Study found that proximity to reefs or land, presence of trawlers and whether ships were piloted or not were some of the key factors in collisions or groundings.

Since 1987 over 600 incidents have been recorded by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. While these include ship groundings, collisions, sinkings and minor oil spill pollution events, it should be noted that this figure also includes all reports of possible pollution incidents reported to GBRMPA. Many of these reports are unconfirmed or subsequently, through investigation, are found to be false reports, or are attributed to other sources of pollution or natural events. By comparison, AMSA, through the SHIPSYS database, has recorded 230 reports of oil spill sightings in the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait region since 1989. These also include both confirmed and unconfirmed reports of pollution, from both ship and non-ship sources. Of these reports, only 18 required some form of response through the National Plan.

It is recognised that shipping has the potential to adversely impact on the environmental, economic and socio-cultural values of the region. The greatest threats are of a major oil or chemical spill following an incident or introduction of marine pests. Pollution from operational discharges and direct damage from collisions or groundings can also impact the marine environmental, economic and socio-cultural values at the local level. Safety of life for a range of users can be affected by the interaction of shipping and other, smaller vessels. Through concerted national and international efforts, there already is a high level of regulation of shipping and special protective measures in the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait.

While there has been a number of shipping incidents, there has not been a significant pollution consequence within the Great Barrier Reef or Torres Strait since the Oceanic Grandeur in 1970. Nor has there been any known introduction by shipping of exotic marine animals or plants that have attained pest status within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park or Torres Strait.

 http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/info_services/publications/sotr/latest_updates/shipping/issues_pressures_and_threats

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Citation and/or URL

Data from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority incident database

Spatial Coverage

GBR-wide

Temporal Coverage

1987 to present

Update Frequency

Continuous

Other Information

None