The coal carrier was towed for 37 hours from Gladstone’s port to the northern part of Hervey Bay by yesterday, where crews started transferring its 19,000t cargo to a smaller bulk carrier, the Clipper Mistral.

Water sprays are suppressing the dust while cargo tarpaulins are floating between the two vessels to capture any spillage.

A second vessel will take the remaining coal from the Chinese coal carrier, which will eventually be exported.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority ordered the relocation of the Shen Neng 1 to Hervey Bay, but initial plans were to tow the coal carrier to a foreign port.

“Our objective has always been to have the ship removed from our waters as quickly as possible but we won’t compromise on the safety of our people and the protection of our environment and the removal of about 19,000 tonnes of coal will not be rushed,” Maritime Safety Queensland general manager Patrick Quirk said.