YEHLIU, NOV 1 – Taiwan today quickly moved 284 tons of oil from a Chinese tanker that ran aground off the island after losing power in rough seas as Typhoon Kong-rey approached.
The Chinese-flagged Yu Zhou Qi Hang was transporting three cranes from Keelung, in northeastern Taiwan, to China last Tuesday when it ran aground in rough weather, Taiwanese authorities said.
A Taiwanese coastguard vessel was deployed to rescue the ship’s 17 crew members and the Chinese vessel drifted ashore at Yehliu Geopark, northeast of Taipei, where it ran aground.
The ship Yu Zhou Qi Hang was carrying 247 tons of fuel oil and 37 tons of diesel oil, the coast guard said.
A photographer AFP today saw a red crane on the water stranded while Yu Zhou Qi Hang has sunk.
Tracking website vesselfinder.com said the ship was a 143-metre heavy-lift vessel built in 2012.
Authorities hope to recover the oil today, an official at the Bureau of Maritime and Ports told AFP.
The Council for Ocean Affairs estimates it will take two to three days to complete, with its minister, Kuan Bi-ling, saying no oil leaks have been detected from the ship.
“This morning there was no oil pollution at the scene,” said Kuan in a Facebook post today. – AFP
