Xing-Sheng

32 crew members on the "Sanchi" were reported missing after the collision with the "CF Crystal" on Jan 6, 2018, at 8 p.m., in ed with a Chinese freighter off China’s east coast in the East China Sea, roughly 160 nautical miles east of the Yangtze River Delta. 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis were among the missing. The 21 members of the freighter’s crew – all Chinese nationals – were rescued. The fire which broke out on the tanker was was still burning on Jan 7, and there was an oil slick. Thick clouds of dark smoke could be seen billowing out of the tanker, engulfing the vessel as rescue efforts were hampered by bad weather and fire on and around the ship which had a list to starboard side. China’s maritime authorities sent eight vessels to support the search and rescue effort. As of 9:00 a.m. on Jan 7, the maritime law enforcement ship "Sea Patrol 01" and the rescue boats "East China Sea Rescue 101" and "East China Sea 117" has arrived at the scene, the "China Maritime Police 31240", three professional cleaning ships and high-powered tugs. The Shanghai Fire Department has sent fire experts to deal with the ship. The South Korean Marine Police Agency has dispatched a marine police ship and a fixed-wing aircraft to the scene. The US Navy participated in the search with a P-8A aircraft that searched an area of ​​3,600 square miles. The tanker which was managed by the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC), was sailing from Kharg Island in Iran to Daesan in northwestern South Korea and had been scheduled to arrive in the night of Jan 7. It was carrying 136,000 tonnes, or just under 1 million barrels, of an ultra light crude worth about US$60 million. The tanker had been charterer by the South Korean company Hanwha Total, a 50-50 partnership between the Seoul-based Hanwha Group and the French oil giant Total. The "CF Crystal" was loaded with grain from Kalama to Maching in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong. It was due to arrive at its destination on Jan 10. Reports with photo and video: https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/huge-oil-tanker-ablaze-off-china/ http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2127171/32-crew-missing-after-iranian-oil-tanker-collides https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXhRy2Dujrk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhXDjl4qlnU

Crude oil tanker SANCHI collided with bulk carrier CF CRYSTAL at around 1800 Beijing time Jan 6 east of Yangtze river estuary in East China sea sea, according to Chinese sources. SANCHI loaded with 136,000 tons of crude oil was en route from Iran to Korea, while CF CRYSTAL loaded with 64,000 tons of grain was en route from USA to Guandong China. Fire erupted on board of SANCHI after collision, making rescue extremely difficult. There are talks and news about SANCHI capsizing, but it’s highly improbably outcome, and according to latest updates tanker engulfed in fire is afloat. In the morning Jan 7 a fleet of SAR ships and patrol ships and boats was deployed in SAR. It is said, that SANCHI 32 crew are missing, but it doesn’t mean they are dead, most probably they can’t be rescued yet with such big fire raging on.

The "CF Crystal" reported a man overboard in the morning of Dec 13, 2014. The vessel was anchored 10 miles off Sabine Pass, Texas, when a deckhand fell overboard during painting works on the vessel’s side. The USCG and vessels in the area were searching for the man, but to no avail.