Chinese vessel crisis off Sakhalin coast prompts emergency
The Chinese cargo ship An Yang 2 broke down off the coast of Sakhalin. The vessel suffered a hull breach and ran aground near the port of Nevelsk. Onboard are approximately 998,000 kilograms of coal, 680,000 kilograms of fuel oil, and 100,000 kilograms of diesel oil.
As port captain Arkady Makarov reported during an operational briefing with Sakhalin Governor Valery Limarenko, a storm broke out during the coal loading, which caused the work to be halted, and the ship was supposed to set out to sea.
Authorities are preparing for the worst
The crew, however, did not control the vessel, which led to the anchor breaking and An Yang 2 becoming stranded. The Investigative Committee has launched an investigation into 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 pump 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 about 200 metres from the shore. Two Russian tugboats, "Rubin" and "Spasatel Kavdeykin," have been put on standby. The crew of An Yang 2 consists of 20 foreigners. According to the governor, the captain is avoiding contact and is not presenting 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, authorities perceive a serious environmental threat. On the western coast of Sakhalin, there is a storm with waves reaching 3-4 metres, and a strong blizzard is limiting visibility.
- We are operating under the assumption that we are addressing an environmental disaster. We will not wait for the storm to overturn the ship and have everything land on our shore, - emphasized Limarenko.
This is not the first incident with a Chinese ship
The governor reminded 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 ships at their own expense.
