Cargo Ship Driven Ashore in Taiwan: Crew Rescued, Oil Spill Contained

A small general cargo ship lost power during a strong storm and was driven ashore in Taiwan, prompting the rescue of nine crewmembers from Myanmar. The vessel, previously known as Wan Xing and now named Hai Shou, had a history of safety violations and was reflagged in Cameroon this year. The vessel departed from Taichung and lost power shortly after leaving, with no cargo aboard. The crew abandoned ship as it drifted towards the coast, and the vessel eventually ran aground on Jibei Island, leaking 20 tons of diesel fuel.

Taiwan’s Coast Guard and Ocean Conservation Administration are now working to contain the oil spill, which has already covered 300 meters of shoreline. Despite attempts to place an oil containment boom around the vessel, rough seas and high winds have made containment efforts difficult. The Ocean Conservation Administration is using booms and absorbing rags to clean up the oil from the coastal reef. The vessel’s history of safety violations and the environmental impact of the oil spill are of concern as authorities work to address the situation.

Source .