Sunken ship oil spill leaves endangered species at risk

An emergency plan has been activated to respond to a sunken ship that is spilling oil and phosphate off the coast of Christmas Island, creating a potential environmental disaster.

Two pollution experts and a salvage expert are due to arrive on the island today to assist a marine pollution response expert and a marine surveyor who arrived yesterday but were unable to begin work due to poor weather.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority this morning activated the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and other Noxious and Hazardous Substances.

A shore-line cleanup is expected to start today, although it is not yet known when authorities will be able to begin retracting oil and phosphate from the ocean.

The island's Emergency Management Committee also is monitoring supplies of food and aviation fuel on the island, which is presently adequate but at risk of running low because poor weather is preventing some aircraft from landing and the sunken ship is blocking other cargo vessels from docking at the port.

Environmentalists claim the incident, which has put a number of endangered species at further risk, was a disaster waiting to happen.

Continued plus video and pictures here:: http://www.watoday.com.au/environment/conservation/sunken-ship-oil-spill-leaves-endangered-species-at-risk-20120109-1prqr.html#ixzz1j9fzF6HA