Clean-up underway after Yellow Sea collision spills oil

ANKARA

Rescue and cleaning operation is still going on in the Yellow Sea after a tanker and bulk carrier collided early this week along China’s northeast coast.

The Regional Shandong Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) said on Thursday at least 400 tons of oil was spilt when the bulk carrier Sea Justice struck the Liberian oil tanker A Symphony near the port of Qingdao on Tuesday.

Oil was split around 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) long and 600 meters (2,000 feet) wide, an initial probe found, as dense fog is hampering the clean-up operation.

The Chinese daily Global Times citing an official of the MSA as saying that the Liberian tanker suffered a hole about six to seven meters (23 feet) long and two meters (6 feet) wide above the sea surface after being hit by the Sea Justice.

The tanker was anchored. All the crew members were safely rescued and no injuries were reported.

Qingdao is China’s largest crude-receiving port.

“The amount of oil spilt from the ship into the sea is about 400 tons, and the emergency disposal work is being carried out in an orderly manner,” said the MSA.

However, it added, the accident did not impact any sail of ships entering and leaving the port.

At least 12 decontamination vessels have been deployed to clean up the oil spill.