( CNN ) -- Australian authorities have declared several coastal areas near Brisbane disaster zones after a massive oil spill earlier this week , according to the Queensland government . Large stretches of Queensland 's coastline are being affected by the oil . `` This is a very serious situation , '' Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said , according to a news release on Friday . `` It appears the volume of oil involved is much greater than originally reported by the Pacific Adventurer . And the effect of the oil spill is more widespread . '' The Pacific Adventurer sustained damage early Wednesday when Cyclone Hamish struck the waters of eastern Australia with more than 125 kph ( 77 mph ) winds . The cargo ship lost 30 of its 50 containers of ammonium nitrate about 13 kilometers ( 8 miles ) off the coast of Cape Moreton . Those containers are still missing . The damaged ship also spilled a large amount of oil that is covering at least 60 kilometers ( 37 miles ) of beach in and around Brisbane , according to Australian Broadcasting Corporation ( ABC ) . Watch sludge washing up on shorelines » . The ship 's owner , Swire Shipping , initially said no more than 42,000 liters ( 11,100 U.S. gallons ) of oil escaped from the ship , but now says that `` substantially more oil was spilled , '' ABC reported Friday . The ship is currently in the custody of Australia 's Maritime Safety Authority in Brisbane , as the investigation into the spill continues . A massive clean-up effort is also under way . So far , 13 oil-covered birds have been recovered , according to the Queensland government .
Pacific Adventurer sustained damage when Cyclone Hamish hit . The ship spilled large amounts of oil and damaged machinery . Ship now in the custody of Australia 's Maritime Safety Authority .