The oil from a sunken tanker ‘Sanchi’ has reportedly reached the Japanese shores of the Okinoerabu and Yoron islands in the Amami chain.
What happened?
On January 14, the oil tanker ‘Sanchi’ reportedly sank after colliding with a freighter and caused a massive oil spill. The tanker was carrying 111,000 tonnes, or about 810,000 barrels, of condensate – an ultra-light, highly flammable crude oil – sank after several explosions weakened the hull following the collision.
On February 8, samples of oily matter has washed up on the shores of the Okinoerabu and Yoron islands in the Amami chain were found to be linked to the Sanchi’s sinking.
Remnants of Sanchi
A Coast Guard official said, “Oily matter that arrived at the shores of the two islands is extremely likely to be linked to the Sanchi tanker incident, considering the similarity of the oil and the fact that there has not been any marine disaster involving oil spill in the nearby sea area”.
First sign of oily sample
On January 28, black clumps of oily matter washed up on the shores of Takarajima island and other matter has since arrived at 21 other islands in southwestern Japan that are part of a chain of islands which includes Amami-Oshima and Okinawa, areas famous for pristine beaches and reef systems.
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Source: Brinkwire
