Disabled Bulker Arrives Safely in Cairns

Bulk carrier 'ID Integrity' operated by Wallem Shipmanagement has arrived under tow in the Australian port of Cairns for engine repairs

The ID Integrity lost propulsion  power last Friday, about 65 nautical miles east of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park boundary and drifted towards Shark Reef until reached by tug boats on Monday morning and taken in tow to Cairns, reports Ninemsn.

"No pollution or injuries to the crew were sustained during the incident, and there was no damage to either Shark Reef or the Great Barrier Reef," the company said in a statement. The company said it would investigate the breakdown.

The incident sparked new calls for tougher regulation of ships in the Great Barrier Reef area.

Maritime Union of Australia National Secretary Paddy Crumlin said increased sea traffic put the reef in danger."Accidents like the Shen Neng ... prove just how dangerous shipping can be to the natural environment if not conducted under proper regulations," Mr Crumlin said. The Shen Neng 1 coal carrier ran aground at Douglas Shoal off the central Queensland coast in 2010, spilling four tonnes of heavy fuel oil.