A Burning tanker off the Chinese coast is in danger of exploding as it continues to leak oil two days after colliding with a cargo ship, according to media statements by Chinese officials.The Panama-flagged Sanchi was bringing its cargo of oil from Iran to South Korea when it collided with the Hong Kong-registered freighter CF Crystal, carrying grain from the US, in the East China Sea. The incident occurred about 260km (160 miles) off the coast of Shanghai.
Rescuers attempting to reach the site were being beaten back by toxic clouds, the transportation ministry has said.
The body of one crewman, among the 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis on board, has been found. The rest are missing.
The tanker, run by Iran’s leading oil shipping operator, has on board 136,000 tons of condensate, which is an ultra-light version of crude oil.
That’s about one million barrels and at current prices is worth roughly $60m (£44m).
The Sanchi will also be carrying a certain amount of heavy - and toxic - shipping fuel.
Condensate is very different from the black crude that is often seen in oil spills.
It exists in gas form within high-pressure oil reservoirs and liquefies once extracted.
It is highly toxic, low in density and considerably more explosive than regular crude oil.
Condensate, which does not need the heavy refining process of denser crude, creates products such as jet fuel, petrol, diesel and heating fuel.
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