The stricken Iranian oil tanker, which has been ablaze for over a week since the collision, was sailing from Iran to South Korea with almost 1 million barrels of condensate, an ultra-light form of crude oil. Now let's take a quick look at some of the key characteristics of condensate.

Condensate is an extremely light form of oil which mostly occurs as a by-product of natural gas production. Whether or not condensate is liquid or gaseous depends on temperature and pressure. It is mostly transparent and is almost odourless. Condensate is sometimes called "white oil" and is mostly used to make vehicle fuel, such as gasoline. It is therefore sometimes called natural gasoline. It is also used to make products like plastic in the petrochemical sector. Before it can be used, condensate has to be stabilized by removing vapour pressure and other elements.  Operating in areas where condensate has escaped is dangerous for people due to the danger of explosions, oxygen displacement and the threat of asphyxiating and anaesthetizing. When forming a spill, it is considered to be dangerous due to its toxicity and because it is difficult to contain and manage. However, it dissipates and breaks down more easily than heavier oils.