SYDNEY (Reuters) - A Chinese-registered ship has run aground off Australia's northeastern coast and is leaking oil into the sea, a government spokesman said on Sunday.
The ship, Shen Neng I, was carrying a shipment of coal to China from the port of Gladstone in Australia's Queensland state when it ran aground late on Saturday, a spokesman for the state government said.
The site is close to Australia's famous Great Barrier Reef, which is a magnet for tourists and is considered potentially at risk from pollution.
"There has been some oil sighted off the vessel," spokesman Mark Strong told Reuters.
The vessel was carrying 950 metric tons of oil, he said.
Aircraft flew out to the area on Sunday to assess the situation and authorities were preparing for a major cleanup operation.
(Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)
