Shipping company ’likely to feel force of environmental legislation’

Chinese shipping company Cosco Group is likely to bear the brunt of environmental legislation, as a result of a recent incident involving a coal carrier that spilled oil into the ocean near Great Keppel Island.

The Shen Neng 1, owned by Cosco subsidiary Shenzhen Energy, may also have damaged parts of the Great Barrier Reef when it ran aground and the event is being described as an environmental crisis.

Speaking to the Brisbane Times, University of Queensland’s Centre for Marine Studies representative Dr Michael White claimed that it is "very likely" that environmental legislation charges will succeed against the firm.

"There are many prosecutions for oil spills every year. Most of them succeed. It’s strict liability, unless one of very few defences can be shown," he was quoted as saying.

The fine for this incident, in which a 3 km long oil slick was produced, is likely to be about AUS $1 million (£608,000).