Shortcut through the Great Barrier Reef results in fine for Chinese crew of the Signe Bulker Rob Almeida Total Views: 53 January 24, 2011 Hong Kong-based bulk carrier, Signe Bulker, took a wrong turn over the weekend while transiting the Great Barrier reef and ended up in hot water with Australian authorities. While enroute to the northeastern Australia port town of Gladstone, the Signe Bulker cut through the Capricorn-Bunker group of islands making up part of the Great Barrier Reef.  Since the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act of 1975, this island group has had a very distinct shipping-exclusion zone drawn around them, one that was blatantly crossed by the Signe Bulker. In the Gladstone Magistrates Court, the ship’s officers pleaded guilty for entering a restricted zone and were fined a total of $53,000. This same area was damaged in 2010 when the coal-carrying ship Shen Neng 1 strayed from the shipping lane and ran aground on Douglas Shoal spilling fuel oil and costing insurers $4MM. Tags: Featured Great Barrier Reef shen neng 1 Editorial Standards · Corrections · About gCaptain Subscribe for Daily Maritime Insights Sign up for gCaptain’s newsletter and never miss an update — trusted by our 105,985 members Prev Back to Main Next Stay Informed. Stay Connected. Get The Daily Insights That Power Maritime Professionals Worldwide Essential maritime and offshore news, insights, and updates delivered daily straight to your inbox — trusted by our 105,985 members Have a news tip? Let us know. Stay Ahead with Our Weekly ‘Dispatch’ Email Dive into a sea of curated content with our weekly ‘Dispatch’ email. Your personal maritime briefing awaits! Sign Up Sign In Related Articles News Australia Concludes 24-Day Operation to Protect Great Barrier Reef from Disabled Bulk Carrier The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has wrapped up a 24-day emergency response after a disabled bulk carrier suffered engine failure in the Coral Sea, triggering a complex oper