On 11 March 2009, the multi-purpose container ship MV Pacific Adventurer caused Queensland’s largest oil spill when it travelled directly through the path of Cyclone Hamish. As a result, 30 tonnes of fuel oil, 30 tonnes of other fuel and 31 shipping containers containing 620 tonnes of ammonium nitrate spilled into the Coral Sea, north of Moreton Bay, off the coast of south-east Queensland.

In this painting, Watson depicts an aerial view of coastal south-east Queensland where the spill occurred. Along the Sunshine Coast, towards northern Moreton Bay and surrounding Mulgumpin (Moreton Island), the artist has sullied the water in murky shades of black, representing the colossal slick of oil that spoiled the sea and shores.