Chinese cargo ship runs aground off Sakhalin, sparks emergency
The Chinese cargo vessel An Yang 2 broke down off the coast of Sakhalin. The ship suffered a hull breach and ran aground near the port of Nevelsk. Onboard are 2,200,000 pounds of coal, 1,500,000 pounds of fuel oil, and 220,000 pounds of diesel oil.
As port captain Arkady Makarov reported during an operational briefing with Sakhalin Governor Valery Limarenko, a storm began during the coal loading, which led to halting the work. The ship was expected to head out to sea afterward.
Authorities are preparing for the worst
The crew, however, did not maintain control of the vessel, causing the anchor to break and An Yang 2 to become stranded. The Investigative Committee has launched an investigation into potential violations of marine navigation safety rules.
Local authorities have declared a state of emergency. They assert that there is no fuel leak, but sorption barriers are being delivered to the site, and a road is being constructed to facilitate the pumping out of fuel from the tanks.
- We are preparing to collect all hydrocarbons on the ship to prevent an environmental disaster, - emphasized Limarenko.
The ship is currently 220 yards from the shore. Two Russian tugboats, "Rubin" and "Spasatel Kavdeykin," are on standby. The crew of An Yang 2 consists of 20 foreigners. According to the governor, the captain is avoiding contact and has not offered any proposals regarding divers, rescue ships, or tugboats. However, he added that the crew is safe and has access to food, water, and energy.
Meanwhile, the authorities recognize a significant environmental threat. On the western coast of Sakhalin, a storm with waves reaching 10-13 feet is occurring, and a strong blizzard is limiting visibility.
- We are operating under the assumption that we are combating an environmental disaster. We will not wait for the storm to overturn the ship and have everything washed ashore, - emphasized Limarenko.
This is not the first incident with a Chinese ship
The governor reminded everyone that three years ago, a similar incident occurred on Sakhalin with the Chinese ship Xing Yuan under the flag of Sierra Leone, which ran aground in the Kholmsk area. The owners refused to dispose of it, and the costs fell on the region. The work continues to this day and is expected to be completed in the spring of 2025.
Since 2022, 72 shipwrecks have already been removed from Sakhalin. Regional authorities and the federal government are seeking a systematic solution that will allow holding foreign owners accountable if they refuse to dispose of the vessels at their own expense.
