Illegal Shipping Routes to be Targeted

Cargo ships that venture into restricted zones of the Great Barrier Reef will feel the full wrath of the law, the Federal Government has warned.

Australian Federal Police have arrested three men from a Panama-flagged coal boat that allegedly entered restricted reef waters, even as salvors battled to prevent an oil spill from a Chinese coal carrier that ran aground in a protected zone further south.

At the weekend Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said vessels that threatened the health of the reef would be prosecuted with all the force of the law.

"If we have any foreign vessel or any vessel violating the proper protection of the Great Barrier Reef they should have the book thrown at them," the Prime Minister told reporters in Brisbane.

Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese returned from flying over the stricken Chinese ship on Sunday, saying every Australian would be angry over the potentially disastrous grounding.

Minister Albanese stated that âit is quite clear this vessel went on a course that was unlawful.

"The Australian government will ensure that the full force of the law is brought to bear on those responsible ... and we will also ensure ... compensation is paid with regard to the cost of cleaning up."

The Chinese-registered coal carrier Shen Neng 1 allegedly veered 15 nautical miles (nearly 30 kilometres) off course on 3rd April, and slammed into Douglas Shoal, off Rockhampton.

The AFP began a criminal investigation into the grounding on Friday.

The race is on to refloat the 320-metre vessel, Minister Albanese warning that âthere is a great sense of urgency."

The majority of the ship's 975 tonnes of fuel oil has been pumped off the vessel, with the operation due to wrap up today in preparation for the refloating.

The fuel is being pumped onto a nearby barge and massive booms have been placed next to the vessel to capture any spillage.

Maritime Safety Queensland General Manager Patrick Quirk last week said the Shen Neng 1 had intended to use the Capricorn Channel to travel from coastal waters off Gladstone out into the Coral Sea, and should have made it safely.

There was nothing illegal about its intended route, although it was not considered a preferred route.

But the vessel strayed off course and ended up grounded in a restricted part of the marine park, he said, adding "this vessel was attempting to use a route which we would see as not the best practice route."

AFP officers on Saturday arrested a 63-year-old South Korean and two Vietnamese, aged 26 and 32, from the MV Mimosa which allegedly entered a restricted area last week, off Bowen, in north Queensland.

The three have been charged with entering a prohibited zone of the reef without permission on 4th April.

They will appear in Townsville Magistrates Court today and face a maximum fine of $220,000.

The AFP also allege the Panama-flagged Mimosa was not registered with the government's Vessel Tracking System and did not respond to authorities' attempts to contact them.