Tanker fire off China is burning off the oil on board — which is a good thing
Seoul/Singapore — The fire engulfing an Iranian tanker off China is being fueled by the oil on board, a scenario seen reducing the amount of supply that may spill into the sea and cause widespread environmental damage. The Sanchi was ferrying 1-million barrels of condensate — a highly flammable hydrocarbon liquid that’s used in petrochemical production — when it collided with a Chinese cargo carrier on Saturday, leaving the Iranian vessel’s 32 crew members missing or dead. The tanker is still ablaze and its cargo is what’s keeping it burning, according to South Korea’s coast guard, which is involved in search and rescue operations. Condensate is more flammable than crude oil or fuel, and a portion of it will be burnt off rather than spilled into the sea, a Korean coast guard official said on Tuesday, adding that it’s watching for any possible environmental damage. "Clarification on how much has burnt and how much has leaked is needed," Rashid Kang, campaigner at Greenpeace East Asia...
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