South China Sea tanker disaster: 32 missing and ship ablaze amid major oil spill fears
RESCUERS are searching for 32 missing crewmen after on oil tanker and a grain ship smashed into each other the South China Sea.
Rescue operation underway in China after oil vessel explosion
The Iranian oil tanker exploded and burst into flames after the collision with a Chinese cargo vessel about 160 nautical miles off the coast of Shanghai.
The Panama-registered tanker Sanchi was carrying 136,000 tonnes of light crude oil which is now spilling into the sea.
China’s the Ministry of Transportation said it was sailing from Iran to South Korea when it collided with the CF Crystal 160 nautical miles off the coast of Shanghai.
A ministry spokesman confirmed the tanker’s 32 crew members were missing.
An oil tanker is ablaze in the South China Sea after colliding with a grain ship
Thirty-two crewmen are missing after the South China Sea tanker disaster
Sanchi is floating and burning as of now
He said: “Sanchi is floating and burning as of now.
“There is an oil slick and we are pushing forward with rescue efforts.”
The spokesman said China had sent four rescue ships and three cleaning boats to site.
South Korea has also sent a ship and helicopter to help.
More than 130,000 tonnes of crude oil were being transported by the Sanchi
State media showed pictures of the tanker ablaze and billowing plumes of thick dark smoke.
The government gave no details of the size of the spill.
Sanchi was built in 2008 and is managed by the National Iranian Tanker Co (NITC).
File picture of the CF Crystal grain ship which collided with the oil tanker Sanchi
It was due to arrive at Daesan in South Korea from Kharg Island in Iran today.
CF Crystal, registered in Hong Kong, was carrying 64,000 tonnes of grain from the US to China’s southern province of Guangdong.
CF Crystal’s 21 crew members, all Chinese nationals, have been rescued and the vessel, which was built in 2011, suffered “non-critical” damage.