Workers rushed to contain an oil spill April 5 from a coal-carrying ship grounded on the Great Barrier Reef, sending two tugboats to stabilize the vessel so that it would not break apart and further damage the fragile coral beneath.

The Chinese-registered Shen Neng 1 rammed into Douglas Shoals late April 3, an area that has shipping restrictions to protect what is the world's largest coral reef, and one that is listed as a World Heritage site because of its gleaming waters and environmental value as home to thousands of marine species.

A boom was to be put around the ship April 6 to contain oil leaking from the hull and aircraft are spraying chemical dispersants in an effort to break up the slick.

About 2 tons of oil have spilled from the 1,000 tons of fuel on board, creating a 100-meter slick that stretches 3 km, Marine Safety Queensland said in a statement.

The bulk carrier was taking about 72,000 tons of coal to China from the Queensland port of Gladstone when it slammed into the shoals.