The damaged Chinese coal carrier Shen Neng 1 anchored in Hervey Bay in South-East Queensland as its crew members continue to unload coal.

The Sheng Neng 1 roamed around the Douglas Shoal on the Great Barrier Reef east of Rockhampton last April.

The ship has been moved to the Fraser coast to unload a third of its 65, 000 tonne coal cargo before it returns to China.

The ship-to-ship transfer began this week as it unloaded about 19, 000 tonnes of coal and is estimated to finish the unloading for two weeks before it is towed back.

The move was opposed by conservationists, stating it is endangering the Great Sandy Marine Park.

Patrick Quirk, a representative of Maritime Safety Queensland said the ship has been monitored for 24 hours and assured the opposition that everything is doing well according to the plan.

"We have stevedores from Rockhampton and Townsville who are actually doing the discharge, they've been contracted in and they're using Urangan as their base, so they're travelling out on 12-hour shifts," he said.

Mr. Quirk said the Chinese cabin crews are busy assisting the salvors on board and currently doing their hull monitoring.

“Having another ship alongside is a task at sea where you never relax."

Mr. Quirk said they are taking every precaution while monitoring the operations in the ships but the job will not be done in haste. He added that he received reports stating there is minimal dust, and no coal has been lost into the water.

“We're saying it will not go as quickly as we can in the conditions,” Mr. Quirk said.