Fisheries officials and environmentalists are concerned that an Iranian tanker that sank over the weekend in the East China Sea after burning for more than a week might trigger one of history’s worst-ever oil spills at sea.
The resulting damage in the marine resources rich area could be immense, USNI News reports.
The Iranian-owned tanker Sanchi collided on January 6 with a Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship CF Crystal while sailing to South Korea with a cargo of nearly 1 million barrels of a highly combustible fuel substance called condensate.
Large oil slicks have reportedly been detected in the area where the tanker sank. 32 crewmen are feared dead.
Experts cited in a National Geographic report say it’s hard to tell how much of the fuel condensate will ultimately end up in local waters because condensate burns off fast versus other heavy fuels. But it’s possible that some of Sanchi’s tanks were still full when the ship sank.
Despite the disaster, the next oil shipment between Iran and South Korea is reportedly getting ready to sail.
Environmentalists and fisheries officials fear the damage done to this region could be immense. In addition to the oil, there were thousands of gallons AFFF firefighting foam used to attempt to extinguish the fire. AFFF degrades to substances that are persistent, bioaccumulating and carcinogenic. Organisms low down on the food chain will feed and pick up these chemicals which in turn will be eaten by fish then by us. See the Madrid Statement.
Oil from Sanchi (Iranian tanker) wreck diffuses into four slicks in East China Sea: authorities
Eastern coast of China sea, large tanker Sanchi was carrying 136,000 tonnes of Crude Oil. Oil leaking from Sanchi (Iranian tanker). Collided with a ship and expelled into flames. It is only presumed that 29 Crew members are dead. However, bodies of two from shit and one from the sea was recovered.
What sort of environmental damage the accident and fire could cause remains to be seen – is the primary concern.
Source: https://omensol.wordpress.com