'Impossible to estimate magnitude' of the Sanchi oil spill - Greenpeace

Press release - 24 January, 2018
Hong Kong, 24 January 2017 - The Chinese State Oceanic Administration announced that oil from the sunken tanker Sanchi may now cover an area of 332km2, much larger than previously reported.

Paul Johnston, Head of Greenpeace International’s Science Unit, said:

“This is an evolving situation and accurate information about the amounts of oil spilled already and likely to be spilled in the future is not available. It remains almost impossible to estimate the magnitude of the spill and what the potential environmental impacts might subsequently be."

“The authorities must ensure there is continued oversight of the spill and that a thorough and systematic surveillance monitoring programme is put in place to assess its ecological significance.”

The Sanchi, which was carrying 111,000 tonnes [1] of highly-toxic natural gas condensate  from Iran, collided with the bulk freighter CF Crystal on 6 January and caught fire, subsequently sinking in the East China Sea.

Notes:

[1] Using the 111,000 tonnes figure revised down from 136,000 tonnes by the Ministry of Transportation

A factsheet on the accident up to 15 January 2018 is here.

Media contacts:

Greenpeace International Press Desk, +31 (0)20 718 2470 (available 24 hours),