Rescue mission challenging as oil tanker still ablaze

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The Panama-registered oil tanker Sanchi is still ablaze and drifting in the water, six days after it collided with a Hong Kong cargo ship off China's east coast, according to Xie Qunwei, deputy director with Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration at a press conference on Friday.

Rescue workers are facing bigger challenges as large oil fires are producing heavy smoke and toxic gas, said Xie, adding that poor sea conditions has also made operations more difficult.

Xie Qunwei, deputy director with Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration speaks at a press conference on January 12, 2018. /CGTN Photo

Chinese rescuers have risked their lives several times to get close to the tanker to put out the fire, he said.

On the same day, the Chinese Foreign Ministry also said that China is making every effort to rescue the missing sailors.

The Shanghai Maritime Bureau has launched an investigation team into the accident as the rescue work continues.

What happened?

Rescue work is underway after a Panama-registered oil tanker Sanchi collided with a Hong Kong cargo ship off China's east coast. /VCG Photo

Rescue work continues days after a Panama-registered oil tanker collided with a Hong Kong cargo ship off China's east coast. /VCG Photo

A Panama-registered oil tanker is in blaze after it collided with a Hong Kong cargo ship off China's east coast. /VCG Photo

Sanchi, carrying 136,000 tonnes of light crude oil from Iran, has been burning since it collided with the CF Crystal, a Hong Kong-registered bulk freighter, some 160 nautical miles (296 km) off China’s east coast at around 19:51 BJT on January 6.

A total of 32 crew members were on board the vessel, including 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis. So far, the body of one crew member has been found and 31 sailors are still missing.

All 21 Chinese crew members on board the Hong Kong cargo ship were able to escape the ship after the collision.

A total of 14 vessels are at the scene for the rescue work, including two from South Korea and Japan respectively.