Qld: Decision on carrier refloat expected this morning

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2010
Qld: Decision on carrier refloat expected this morning

Three men are due in a Queensland court today .. on charges related to the illegal
entry of a bulk coal carrier into restricted reef waters on the state's north coast last
week.

Australian Federal Police allege the Panama-flagged MV Mimosa entered the restricted
area off Bowen .. was not registered with the government's Vessel Tracking System .. and
did not respond to authorities' attempts to contact them.

A 63-year-old South Korean man .. and two Vietnamese men aged 26 and 32 .. will face
the Townsville Magistrates Court today .. charged with entering a prohibited zone of the
reef without permission on April 4.

They face a maximum fine of 220-thousand dollars.

Their arrest follows the stranding of the Shen Neng 1 on Douglas Shoal .. off Rockhampton
nine days ago.

Transport Minister ANTHONY ALBANESE says a decision on refloating the vessel could
be made as early as today .. while the AFP began a criminal investigation into the grounding
on Friday.

AAP RTV ka/wf/psm/

KEYWORD: CARRIER (BRISBANE)

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