What Crew Members Say About Xing-Sheng

A tragic incident occurred on January 6, 2018, at approximately 8 p.m., when the Iranian oil tanker 'Sanchi' collided with the bulk carrier 'CF Crystal' off the east coast of China, within the East China Sea, about 160 nautical miles from the Yangtze River Delta. Following the accident, 32 crew members from the 'Sanchi', comprising 30 Iranians and 2 Bangladeshis, have been reported missing. In contrast, the 21 crew members aboard the 'CF Crystal', all of whom are Chinese nationals, were successfully rescued. As of January 7, the fire on the 'Sanchi' remains uncontrolled, with an oil slick visible in the vicinity. Thick, dark smoke continues to envelop the vessel, creating challenges for rescue crews impacted by adverse weather conditions and the intense blaze, which has caused the tanker to list to the starboard side. To facilitate the search and rescue operation, Chinese maritime authorities have dispatched eight vessels to the site. By 9:00 a.m. on January 7, several ships had arrived, including the maritime law enforcement vessel 'Sea Patrol 01', alongside rescue boats 'East China Sea Rescue 101' and 'East China Sea 117'. Additional support came from 'China Maritime Police 31240' and three specialized cleaning ships equipped with high-powered tugs. Experts from the Shanghai Fire Department have also been deployed to combat the fire aboard the tanker. Internationally, the South Korean Marine Police Agency has contributed a marine police ship and a fixed-wing aircraft, while the U.S. Navy has engaged in rescue efforts using a P-8A aircraft to cover a search area of 3,600 square miles. The 'Sanchi', operated by the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC), was en route from Kharg Island, Iran, to Daesan in northwestern South Korea, carrying 136,000 tonnes of ultra-light crude oil valued at approximately $60 million. The tanker was chartered by Hanwha Total, a joint venture between Seoul-based Hanwha Group and the French energy conglomerate Total. Meanwhile, the 'CF Crystal' was transporting grain from Kalama to Maching in southern Guangdong province and was expected to reach its destination by January 10. For further updates, you can explore reports featuring photos and video footage from the incident: [Chemical Engineer Report](https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/huge-oil-tanker-ablaze-off-china/), [South China Morning Post](http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2127171/32-crew-missing-after-iranian-oil-tanker-collides), [YouTube Coverage 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXhRy2Dujrk), [YouTube Coverage 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhXDjl4qlnU).

In a significant maritime incident, the crude oil tanker SANCHI was involved in a collision with the bulk carrier CF CRYSTAL at approximately 1800 Beijing time on January 6. The accident occurred in the East China Sea, just east of the Yangtze River estuary, as reported by Chinese authorities. The SANCHI, which was transporting 136,000 tons of crude oil, was on its route from Iran to Korea. Meanwhile, the CF CRYSTAL, carrying 64,000 tons of grain, was navigating from the USA to Guangdong, China. Following the collision, a fire broke out on the SANCHI, complicating rescue operations significantly. Amidst the chaos, there have been circulating rumors regarding the possibility of the SANCHI capsizing; however, experts deem this outcome unlikely, with recent updates confirming that the tanker remains afloat despite being engulfed in flames. By the morning of January 7, multiple search and rescue (SAR) ships, along with patrol vessels, were deployed in an effort to assist. Currently, reports indicate that all 32 crew members aboard the SANCHI are unaccounted for, although this does not necessarily imply their demise. It is believed that their current status is due to the challenges posed by the extensive fire on board, which has hindered immediate rescue efforts.

On the morning of December 13, 2014, the maritime community faced a distressing situation as the vessel CF Crystal reported a man overboard incident. The vessel, positioned approximately 10 miles off Sabine Pass, Texas, was engaged in painting operations along its side when a deckhand unexpectedly fell into the water. In response, the United States Coast Guard, along with nearby vessels, immediately initiated a search and rescue operation for the missing crew member. Unfortunately, despite their efforts, the search did not yield any results.