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A cargo ship taking up water off the Queensland coast is being escorted to security by tugboats after sparking an emergency response.
The Panama-flagged bulk provider Frontier Unity reported seven meters of water in its engine room whereas heading to Hay Level close to Mackay on Tuesday.
Twenty 4 persons are aboard the vessel, which is empty of coal.
An Australian Maritime Security Authority (AMSA) consultant stated it was notified of an incident off Hay Level about 1pm on Tuesday.
“AMSA was knowledgeable the Panama-flagged bulk provider ship Frontier Unity was experiencing water ingress into its engine room following restore work undertaken by business divers,” the consultant advised AAP in an announcement.
“Because the ship is inside port limits and below the Nationwide Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies, Maritime Security Queensland (MSQ) is the lead company responding to this incident, with AMSA offering extra help.”
AMSA, which has a consultant on the scene, tasked the Cairns-based Challenger plane to drop de-watering pumps to the Frontier Unity.
No accidents or fatalities have been reported.
“All events concerned are working collaboratively within the response to this incident to reduce threat to security or the setting,” AMSA stated.
The ship has been reported as being secure, with the water ingress now stemmed, and is remaining at anchor with two tugboats alongside.
-AAP
