Shipping on the Great Barrier Reef is expected to increase by 250% during the next 20 years. This development, along with a recent navigational infringement that was noted by a cruise ship, has raised concerns that the marine park’s maritime management must be reviewed.
Namely, on the beginning of March, the “Costa Luminosa” sailed outside the designated shipping area on the reef near Geranium Passage. As a result, AMSA detained the ship for crossing marginally into a compulsory pilotage to avoid a close call situation with another vessel.
AMSA said Carnival Corporation, the company which also operated the ill-fated Costa Concordia which ran aground off the coast of Italy in 2012 killing 32 people, blamed the infringement on inadequate voyage planning.
Maritime policy expert Steve Raaymakers said that in the recent years, shipping has greatly increased, predicting also that the number of ships sailing through the reef might can increase by 250% over the next 20 years.
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David Cazzulino from the Australian Marine Conservation Society, talked about this increase as well. Mr. Cazzulino confirmed the increase in shipping in the area, but he said that this, along with the “Costa Luminosa” incident, can impact the state’s economy.
This is because increased traffic also increases the risk for human error, as prevention systems will not always operate correctly.
