Chinese authorities fear that the Iranian tanker ‘Sanchi’ is at risk of exploding, as it is still on fire, following collision with a Chinese freight ship on Saturday in the East China Sea. All of its 32 crew members were reported missing as a result from the accident, while one body has been found so far.
According to local media reports, the leaked cargo is burning furiously and, in combination with inclement weather conditions, it hampers the rescue efforts, which could lead to explosion and sinking.
Images from local TV channels illustrated the ship surrounded by thick clouds of dark smoke in the grip of an intense blaze.
The Chinese rescue teams are working to put out the fire, find the missing crewmen, as well as prevent a possible environmental damage. The US navy also contributed to search and rescue efforts.
The ‘Sanchi’ tanker, operated by Iran’s top oil shipping firm, was sailing from Iran to South Korea, carrying 136,000 tonnes of condensate, when it collided with the ‘CF Crystal’, about 160 nautical miles off the coast, near Shanghai and the mouth of the Yangtze River Delta, on Saturday evening, according to a statement by the Chinese Ministry of Transportation as quoted by Reuters.
The ‘Sanchi’ was carrying a total of 32 crew members, thirty of which are Iranian and two Bangladeshi nationals. The identity of the deceased is not yet revealed.
As for the other vessel, the Hong Kong-registered freighter ‘CF Crystal’, it sustained some damage, but all of its 21 Chinese crewmen were rescued. The ship is now headed at Luhuashan, China in order to be investigated.
In an official statement for the accident, IMO Secretary General Kitack Lim expressed his condolences and said that IMO stands ready to offer any technical assistance that may be needed.
“This is an ongoing situation which we are monitoring. IMO stands ready to offer any technical assistance that may be needed. In the longer term, it is expected that there will be a full investigation into this incident and that the results and findings will be brought to IMO so that we can do whatever may be necessary to reduce the chances of such an incident happening again.”
