Sanchi oil tanker environmental disaster, East China Sea
China, Japan, South Korea
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10 months agoProblems
The Sanchi oil tanker environmental disaster was a major marine accident in January 2018, when an Iranian oil tanker named Sanchi collided with a cargo ship and caught fire in the East China Sea. The tanker was carrying 136,000 tons of condensate, a highly flammable and toxic crude oil, to South Korea. The fire burned for over a week, and the tanker eventually sank, releasing many condensate and fuel oil into the water34. All 32 crew members on board the Sanchi were reported missing or dead. The Iranian oil tanker took condensate ultra-light crude from Iran to South Korea. According to the North American corporation ConocoPhillips, the concentrate is a highly flammable liquid containing poisonous hydrogen sulfide gas, which can cause skin irritation and be fatal if swallowed or inhaled. It is cataloged as toxic to marine life with long-lasting effects.
The aftermath of the collision of the oil tanker Sanchi with a cargo ship
The spill affects key fisheries off the coasts of Japan and China. The East China Sea contains breeding grounds for squid, fish, and blue crabs. Samples of fish from within five nautical miles of the wreck examined in Beijing contained traces of condensate compounds. The spill also passed through the migratory paths of marine life like humpback whales and sea turtles: One sea turtle, asphyxiated by oil, was found dead on the shore of Japan’s Amami Oshima island. Depending on currents and wind patterns, the condensate could reach as far as Tokyo and globs of bunker oil have already been found on many of the Ryukyu Islands. This spill is problematic due to its invisibility and the lack of information surrounding it. The depletion of ocean stocks caused by overfishing will be exacerbated by toxic degradation, impacting fishermen in China and Japan. Harmful carcinogenic chemicals will pollute islands, reefs, and coastal regions. Additionally, the evaporation of condensate might compromise air quality in the vicinity. Perhaps most alarming is the absence of an explicit agreement on the methods and timeline for oil cleanup.
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2020
A research article by Chen et al. was published, using the fault tree analysis method to systematically analyze the main factors of the accident and propose effective measures to reduce such accidents. The article found that the factors contributing to the oil tanker accident were quite complicated, with human factors playing a significant part structurally. In addition, management, environmental and ship factors also played a part.
2019
The official investigation report by the Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Panama and Hong Kong was released, revealing that both vessels failed to comply with the requirements of Rule 5 of the COLREGs to maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing, as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions and failed to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision.
2018
January 14
The Chinese state television reports that Sanchi exploded and sunk at noon after several loud blasts were heard. It says that there is no hope of finding any survivors. It also says that a large amount of oil had spilt into the sea, creating four oil slicks covering an area of about 100 square kilometres.
January 06
The Iranian oil tanker Sanchi, carrying 136,000 tons of condensate oil, collides with the Chinese cargo ship CF Crystal in the East China Sea, off the coast of Shanghai, around 8 pm local time. The collision causes a fire and condensate oil leak from Sanchi’s cargo tanks.