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Salvage crews have begun to pump the fuel tanks of the Chinese bulk carrier that ran aground on Australia's Great Barrier Reef over the weekend.

Heavy fuel oil is being pumped from damaged tanks on the bottom of the coal carrier into secure ones at the top of the hull in preparation for the next stage of the salvage operation.

A bunker barge is expected to leave the port of Gladstone tomorrow to carry out the task of recovering more than 950 tonnes of heavy fuel oil currently on the coal ship Shen Neng 1.

Final preparations are currently being made to the 50-metre bunker barge Larcom to ready the vessel for the upcoming mission.

Shen Neng 1 left the Port of Gladstone last week carrying around 975 tonnes of fuel oil and 65,000 metric tons of coal.

The vessel ran aground last Saturday on the Douglas Shoal, east of Rockhampton and around 100 kilometers (63 miles) off the Queensland coast.

Damage to the ship's fuel tank caused an oil spill stretching approximately three kilometres.

The vessel is currently stranded about 38 nautical miles east of Great Keppel Island in the southern part of the Great Barrier Reef, a United Nations world heritage site.

According to Queensland Transport Minister Rachel Nolan, up to 150 tonnes of fuel oil could end up being washed up on the Queensland coast if the plan to offload oil from the stricken ship fails.

"Computer modelling shows that 150 tonnes could wash up at Cape Manifold (north of Yeppoon) in two to three days and so we're preparing a number of initiatives that will ensure we're ready for that eventuality," Ms Nolan said.

"This remains a precarious situation and one of the most delicate operations in recent marine history is about to get underway," Ms Nolan added.

Approximately 3 tonnes of fuel oil are said to have leaked from the vessel, but authorities say the resulting slick has been dispersed using chemicals.

Meanwhile, Shen Neng 1 Captain Wang Jichang has provoked anger by reportedly claiming the spill was not serious as he could not see the oil in the sea.

Queensland state Premier Anna Bligh said she was disappointed by the comments, adding: "If the Chinese crew are under any illusion that this is a minor incident, I'm sure that when they get off the boat and see what the world has to say, they'll understand a bit more clearly just how serious this is."