On 3 April 2010 , the Chinese ship '' Shen Neng 1 '' carrying 950 tonnes of oil , ran aground east of Rockhampton in Central Queensland , Australia , causing the 2010 Great Barrier Reef oil spill and inflicting the largest damage to the GBR and the Coral Sea so far . The scarred area was roughly long and wide , and some parts of it have become completely devoid of marine life . There are concerns that there could be considerable long-term damage and it will take 10 to 20 years for the reef to recover . By 13 April 2010 , oil tar balls were washing up on the beaches of North West Island , a significant bird rookery and turtle nesting colony
2010 Great Barrier Reef oil spill
2010 Great Barrier Reef oil spill
Coral Sea