Bunker Spills in China and Taiwan in Wake of Deadly Typhoon Meranti

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Monday September 19, 2016

A deadly super Typhoon, which has left a reported 28 people dead, has also caused bunker spills inĀ China and Taiwan.

Typhoon Meranti hit late last week and continued to cause havoc over the weekend, with winds reported of up to 175 mph causing many vessels to break free from their anchorage.

Among the casualties was Panamax box ship Gan Tai Tai Zhou, which was reported to have run aground on a beach near Xiamen, China, spilling an as yet undetermined amount of bunkers.

In Kaohsiung, at least 10 vessels were reported to have broken free, four of which were reported to have overturned.

One of the overturned vessels is reported to have spilled 10 tonnes of distillate fuel, with 60 tonnes remaining onboard.

"The spill is not expected to seriously impact the local ecology because what the vessels carry is diesel, which is lighter, more volatile and less sticky than crude oil, so it is easier to clean up," said EPA Department of Water Quality Deputy Director Liu Jui-hsiang.

One of the other overturned vessels with some 250 to 300 tonnes of diesel oil is on board posed no immediate risk of a spill, EPA said.

An EPA released photo showed oil containment booms had been deployed as part of efforts to contain the spill.