The ‘Sanchi’ oil tanker, that collided with a freighter in Chinese waters earlier in January, causing one of the worst oil spills in decades, had all its necessary paperwork onboard, Panama maritime authorities informed, after they conducted an initial review.
The tanker, operated by National Iranian Tanker Co, 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, and went ablaze.
According to Fernando Solorzano, the head of Panama’s Merchant Marine, the vessel did not violate any security protocols. However, a definite conclusion will take a long time until it is made, Reuters reports.
At this time, experts from China, Iran, Hong Kong and the crew’s home countries, are analyzing the ship’s data recorder, to shed light on what caused the vessel to collide.
The Sanchi carried the Panama flag, because of the strategic importance of the Central American nation’s canal. In fact, the Panamanian registry has over 8,000 vessels registered.
Mr. Solorzano added that all vessels that carry the Panamanian flag have to adhere to strict requirements and this incident can affect the registry’s image, as it has a low rate of accidents.
The ‘Sanchi’ was carrying a total of 32 crew members, 30 Iranian and 2 Bangladeshi nationals, all of whom were reported missing. One body was recovered soon after the tragedy and brought to Shanghai for identification, while another two bodies were recovered by rescue teams.
The remaining 29 people were also presumed dead, according to Iranian officials’ estimations as cited by Reuters, causing the government to declare a day of national mourning.