Concerns for reef as oil drained from PNG shipwreck

7:53 am on 13 January 2016

A ship remains firmly lodged on a reef in remote East New Britain province in Papua New Guinea, as disaster managers praise the efforts to contain the damage.

Ataliklikun Bay, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

The Kimbe Queen is still on Elizabeth Reef, following the December 23rd incident, not far from Ataliklikun Bay (pictured). Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades

The Kimbe Queen ran aground on the Elizabeth Reef three weeks ago, not far from the shore of Lassul Bay and close to the Talele Island Nature Reserve.

The Chairman of the Provincial Disaster Committee for East New Britain, Wilson Makawa, says the Rabaul Shipping Company acted responsibly in draining the ship of fuel and oil and minimising damage.

However he says the reef has been badly damaged and a decision will need to made soon about whether the ship should be wrecked or whether it can still be moved away.

"The plan is to salvage the boat or remove it from the reef, which is within the area of the conservation island, Talele Island. And I would say within the 20 day period they have responded well to this disaster."