Oil is washing ashore on beaches near Brisbane, after 20 tonnes of fuel oil leaked from a damaged cargo ship on Wednesday.
Oil slicks are reported on the east side of Moreton Island and at Marcoola Beach, near Coolum on the Sunshine Coast.
The oil leaked from the cargo ship Pacific Adventurer, which was holed when it lost 31 containers of ammonium nitrate overboard in rough seas in Cyclone Hamish on Wednesday morning.
The ABC reports the slick stretched for 10km along the Moreton Island coastline.
Transport Minister John Mickel said on Thursday morning that crews were working to minimise damage.
The Pacific Adventurer was due to dock at the Port of Brisbane on Thursday and will be inspected further.
