Sanko Harvest facts for kids

Sanko Harvest was a very large cargo ship called a "dry bulk carrier." It was 167.6 metres (550 ft) long, which is about the length of two football fields! This ship was built in 1985 and could carry over 32,502 tonnes of cargo. On February 14, 1991, the Sanko Harvest sank off the coast of Esperance, Western Australia. It hit a reef that was marked on maps.

At the time, the ship was carrying a huge amount of phosphate fertilizer. It also had hundreds of tonnes of fuel for its engines. Today, the wreck of the Sanko Harvest is a popular spot for divers. It is the second largest shipwreck in the world that people can dive to explore. It is also the biggest shipwreck off the coast of Australia.

What Happened to the Sanko Harvest?

The Sanko Harvest was on a long journey. It had picked up a cargo of phosphate fertilizer in Tampa, Florida, in the United States. The ship was traveling through the Panama Canal to reach Esperance, Australia.

However, on February 14, 1991, the ship hit a reef. This reef was near Hood Island, about 33 kilometres (21 mi) southeast of Esperance. At first, people hoped to save the ship. But the Sanko Harvest started to break apart. It split into three pieces and sank completely during the night of February 17 and 18.

When the ship broke up, all its cargo and fuel spilled into the ocean. The fertilizer dissolved in the water. Most of the fuel oil washed up on the beaches of nearby Cape Le Grand National Park. Some young New Zealand Fur seals got covered in oil. A rescue team from the CALM worked hard to clean them. They saved more than 80% of the oiled seal pups. About 20 birds died, but no fish deaths were reported. Workers used special chemicals to help clean up the oil spill.

Later, an investigation looked into why the ship sank. It found that the ship's captain and second officer were at fault. They had sailed into an area where maps were not fully complete. They also did not update the ship's charts with a special notice from 1988. This notice had given the correct location of the reef.

Exploring the Wreck: A Dive Site

The Sanko Harvest wreck now rests on the seabed. It is about 40 metres deep. The highest parts of the ship are about 13 metres from the surface. Diving here is for experienced divers. There are tight spaces and sharp metal parts that can be dangerous.

Since 1995, there has been a special rule around the wreck. No one is allowed to fish within 500 metres of it. This rule, along with how far away the wreck is, helps protect the sea life there. Many different fish live on and around the wreck. These include western blue groper, queen snapper, Australasian snapper, and Port Jackson sharks.

The wreck is also covered in plants and other sea creatures. You can see kelp, sponges, and different types of corals. Sea tulips and sea stars also live on the ship. Sometimes, seals, dolphins, and even humpback whales visit the wreck site.

• "Sanko Harvest oil spill off coast of Esperance remembered 30 years on", ABC News