Oil Sinking Drama & Its Fishy Consequences
On a cold January evening in 2018, the Sanchi (IMO 9356608) met a watery fate that sent ripples—quite literally—through the East China Sea. Oil spilled, slicks spread, and the ocean community woke up to a real‑life soap opera starring a tanker, a freighter, and a handful of unlucky sailors.
Where the Squirt Happens
- Four stubborn slicks now cover a bit over 100 km² (about 39 square miles). The big one measures roughly 30 km by 400 m, 11 km north of the wreck.
- Another slick, about 20 km long and 500 m wide, lies a mere 2 km southwest of the sunken hull.
- Sizes vary from a modest 5.5 km² to a hefty 48 km² depending on how the oil danced in the wind.
Insane Incident & Loss
The tanker was blazing and adrift after a collision with the freighter CF Crystal back on January 6. Mighty winds sent the oil‑rich ship racing off the Chinese coast straight into Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
About 136,000 t of ultralight, highly flammable condensate (nearly one million barrels) was on board—think the petroleum version of a tiny, dangerous firecracker.
Three crew members’ tragic passings occurred: two bodies salvaged from the wreck, one found floating near the vessel. The remaining twenty‑nine? Presumed lost at sea.
Heroes in Helmets (and ROVs)
The Ministry of Transport deployed a salvage crew who located the wreck at a depth of 115 m (377 ft). Soon, underwater robots will traverse the wreck’s echoes, hoping to keep the haunting story from spreading further.
What the Digging tells Us
- 19 spill locations tested; five irked scientists: petroleum levels spiked above the safe threshold.
- Cleanup squads are on endless patrol, watching how the slicks drift and watching for any extra drama in marine life.
Nobody wants the water turned into a slick of doom. Thanks to the relentless cleanup teams, hope still floats a little higher than the oil clouds.
