On 10 July 1995 it was nearing the end of a voyage transporting 24,000 tonnes of manganese ore from Groote Eylandt via Port Kembla to the port of Bell Bay in northern Tasmania, Australia. Weather conditions at the time were north-westerly 37–46 km/h (20–25 knot) winds and two-metre seas. It grounded on Hebe Reef as it approached the mouth of the Tamar River and began leaking bunker fuel oil. The crew was safely evacuated.[1]
Salvage work commenced and the first casualties of the incident, a dead penguin and three dead cormorants, were recovered by 13 July. At that time 200 penguins had been taken into care.[2]
On 16 July the Iron Baron was refloated and moved to an offshore anchorage. Underwater inspections confirmed that it had incurred major structural damage and was continuing to deteriorate. With further bad weather predicted, it was decided by BHP to dump the ship. It was towed to an approved disposal site east of Flinders Island where it sank on 30 July.[1]
An estimated 325 tonnes of heavy bunker fuel oil[3] was spilled from the vessel in the course of its grounding, refloating and towing to the disposal ground.
Several beaches and islands in north-eastern Tasmania were affected and a major clean-up and wildlife rescue effort was undertaken. Little penguins were especially badly affected with 1894 oiled birds collected for treatment and rehabilitation. An estimated 2000–6000 were killed at Ninth Island alone.[1] [4] In 2001, penguin fatalities were estimated at between 10,000 and 20,000 birds. In 2005, a 10-year post-mortem reflection on the incident revised the figure upwards, estimating penguin fatalities at 25,000.[5]