[8] On 3 April 2010, while transiting from Gladstone, Queensland, to China carrying a cargo of 65,000 tonnes of coal, Shen Neng 1 ran aground 70 kilometres (38 nmi) off Great Keppel Island, Australia, at geographic coordinates 23°06′06″S 151°38′57″E / 23.10167°S 151.64917°E / -23.10167; 151.64917 (2010 Shen Neng 1 Great Barrier Reef oil spill).

[9] At the time of the grounding, Shen Neng 1 was reported to have been travelling at full speed.

She was severely damaged on her port side, and a 3 kilometres (1.6 nmi) long oil slick was later reported to have been seen.

[11] It is in a restricted area which forms part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, a World Heritage Site designated by UNESCO.

[10] Shen Neng 1 was refloated on 12 April 2010, after forecasts of bad weather meant that the salvage operation was brought forward.

[10] Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said that the Government would be investigating why the ship was so far off route.

[8] The ATSB despatched three investigators to Gladstone, Queensland, on 4 April to collect evidence and conduct interviews.

Prior to the grounding, there were no checks to ensure fatigue was minimised by the governing authorities (AMSA).