Coal Freighter: Pasha Bulker Panorama

The large coal freighter Pasha Bulker was driven ashore yesterday in a fierce storm in Newcastle (130km N of Sydney). This beach, Nobby's Beach, is the main city beach of Newcastle, the CBD being just a 15 minute walk away. Now focus is shifted to environmental concerns and salvage of the ship with reports ranging from optimism to environmental catastrophe. The consensus in the maritime world is that damage from fuel oil can be avoided if the weather allows them to pump out the ship’s tanks prior to any additional structural damage.