Like Chernobyl and the Exxon Valdez, only worse

The coal-carrier Shen Neng 1, aground on the Great Barrier Reef, disgorged some two tons of fuel oil and later another 50 litres as the fuel tanks were emptied. According to occasional Asian Correspondent contributor Jeremy Sear (aka Melbourne Lefty and Anonymous Lefty) this is an environmental disaster akin to Chernobyl and the Exxon Valdez. Notwithstanding the Chernobyl and Exxon Valdez environmental impact exaggerations, the Shen Neng 1 grounding is unlikely to significantly affect the environment.