The Wall Street Journal: Huge oil tanker ablaze, leaking after collision in South China Sea

A massive Iranian oil tanker was ablaze and leaking fuel in the East China Sea on Sunday after colliding with a large Chinese cargo ship, Iranian and Chinese officials said. — Reuters pic BEIJING, Jan 8 — An Iranian oil tanker ablaze off the Chinese coast is at risk of exploding or sinking, authorities said this morning, as they reported there was no sign of survivors 36 hours after the vessel erupted in flames. Rescuers attempting to reach the crew of 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis were being beaten back by toxic clouds, China’s transportation ministry said. “It also can be colour- and odourless – so it is a lot harder to detect, contain and clean up.”

Though Panama-registered, the tanker Sanchi belongs to an Iranian company. “Conditions… are not that favourable for search and rescue work,” he said, adding that “we are also investigating how to prevent any secondary disaster.”

The accident happened on Saturday evening 160 nautical miles east of Shanghai. The Panama-flagged Sanchi was bringing its cargo of oil from Iran to South Korea when it collided with the Hong Kong-registered freighter CF Crystal, carrying grain from the US, in the East China Sea.
MV Sanchi is still ablaze this morning and it continues to leak oil. Chinese officials mention the danger of explosion and sinking.