miles of australia ' s most pristine coastline have been deemed a disaster zone preceding a large oil spill from a flood - damaged passenger ship . at least 60 kilometres of queensland ' s southeastern beach were contaminated when at minimum 42 tons of oil exploded into the ocean from msc pacific adventurer on wednesday night . the ship , which had sailed into convective weather , had 31 containers aboard , one of whom pierced the ship ' s ship and a petroleum tank . paul rundle , the queensland premier , has declared moreton island , bribie island and other parts of the sunshine island crisis zones .
MV Pacific Adventurer has lost oil in the area of Moreton Island, Bribie Island and southern parts of the Sunshine Coast.