[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.

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

On 6 April they boarded the ship to interview the crew members and collect further evidence.

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