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Sanchi: Oil tanker still burning off China coast Sanchi oil tanker: 'No big spill' off China coast
(about 2 hours later)
Bad weather is hampering efforts to contain a fire and an oil spill - more than 60 hours after two ships collided in the East China Sea, officials say. No large oil spill has been detected so far from a tanker that has been burning since Saturday evening off the coast of China, Chinese officials say.
China says an Iranian-owned oil tanker is still burning after the incident, with a cargo ship about 260km (160 miles) off the coast of Shanghai. The Sanchi is still alight and bad weather - with waves of up to 4m (13ft) - is hampering the rescue work.
The vessel collided with a cargo ship about 260km (160 miles) off the coast of Shanghai.
Of the 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis on the tanker, only one body has so far been found.
Twenty-one Chinese nationals on the cargo ship were rescued.
The Sanchi tanker has on board 136,000 tonnes of condensate, which is an ultra-light version of crude oil.The Sanchi tanker has on board 136,000 tonnes of condensate, which is an ultra-light version of crude oil.
Rescuers have now widened their search for 31 missing crew members.
The body of only one crewman, among the 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis on board, has so far been found.
Twenty-one Chinese nationals on the cargo ship have been rescued.
There fears of a major environmental disaster as the tanker is continuing to leak oil.
What are the latest developments?What are the latest developments?
In a statement on Tuesday, the Chinese transport ministry said heavy winds, rain and waves up to four metres high continued to hamper efforts to contain the fire. China's transport ministry said heavy winds, rain and high waves continued to hamper efforts to contain the fire.
It said the search and rescue operation was now covering an area of 900 square miles. However, it added that experts at the scene believed that, given the wave conditions, no more than 1% of the condensate was on the surface of the water.
A formal accident investigation, involving several government departments, would start on Tuesday, officials said.A formal accident investigation, involving several government departments, would start on Tuesday, officials said.
Park Sung-dong, an official from South Korea's ministry of oceans and fisheries, told Reuters news agency: "We can't grasp the level of oil contamination at this moment. The cargo is still on fire, so it is hard to figure out if oil is being spilled."
Where, how and when did the accident happen?Where, how and when did the accident happen?
The Panama-flagged Sanchi was bringing condensate from Iran to South Korea when the collision with the Hong Kong-registered freighter CF Crystal, carrying grain from the US, happened in the East China Sea.The Panama-flagged Sanchi was bringing condensate from Iran to South Korea when the collision with the Hong Kong-registered freighter CF Crystal, carrying grain from the US, happened in the East China Sea.
The collision, in the mouth of the Yangtze River Delta, occurred on Saturday evening.The collision, in the mouth of the Yangtze River Delta, occurred on Saturday evening.
The exact cause is not yet known.The exact cause is not yet known.
What is the Sanchi carrying?What is the Sanchi carrying?
The tanker, run by Iran's leading oil shipping operator, has on board 136,000 tonnes of condensate. The tanker, run by Iran's leading oil shipping operator, has on board about one million barrels of condensate, which at current prices is worth roughly $60m (£44m).
That is about one million barrels and at current prices is worth roughly $60m (£44m).
The Sanchi will also be carrying a certain amount of heavy - and toxic - shipping fuel.The Sanchi will also be carrying a certain amount of heavy - and toxic - shipping fuel.
Condensate is very different from the black crude that is often seen in oil spills.Condensate is very different from the black crude that is often seen in oil spills.
It exists in gas form within high-pressure oil reservoirs and liquefies once extracted.It exists in gas form within high-pressure oil reservoirs and liquefies once extracted.
It is toxic, low in density and considerably more explosive than regular crude oil.It is toxic, low in density and considerably more explosive than regular crude oil.
Condensate, which does not need the heavy refining process of denser crude, creates products such as jet fuel, petrol, diesel and heating fuel.Condensate, which does not need the heavy refining process of denser crude, creates products such as jet fuel, petrol, diesel and heating fuel.
How does this compare with other oil spills?How does this compare with other oil spills?
It is impossible to say at this point because it is unknown how much oil has been, or will be, spilled. The harm from oil pollution depends on a number of factors, not just on how much is spilled.
The Sanchi's one million barrels is about 35 million gallons. Even if all of it spilled, it would be less than the major ship disasters listed below, but more than three times the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989, which is considered one of the world's worst environmental disasters. Location is paramount, followed by factors such as the type of oil, sea conditions, wave directions, climate and time of year.
So, how much the spill affects the environment depends on the location where it occurred. The Atlantic Empress incident listed below - the record spill from ships - saw little oil reach coastlines. The Atlantic Empress incident listed below - the record spill from ships - saw little oil reach coastlines, whereas the Exxon Valdez, which spilled eight times less, is considered one of the world's worst environmental disasters.
There are also a lot of different types of spill. Arguably the worst was the deliberate release of up to 500 million gallons by the Iraqis in January 1991 during the Gulf War. The resultant slick covered some 10,300 sq km (4,000 sq miles). Arguably the worst spill was the deliberate release of up to 500 million gallons by the Iraqis in January 1991 during the Gulf War. The resultant slick covered some 10,300 sq km (4,000 sq miles).
As far as ships are concerned:As far as ships are concerned: