A Panamanian container vessel ran into a Chinese cargo ship in
foul weather on Sunday in the port of Tianjin,
north China, causing dangerous chemicals to spill into the sea,
according to port sources.
At 10:00 PM Sunday, in heavy rain and dense fog, the Panamanian
vessel loaded with containers bumped head-on into an internal-trade
ship while waiting in the sea-lane for suitable weather to sail
towards Japan.
The tip of the Chinese vessel damaged containers filled with
furfuryl alcohol, a toxic and flammable chemical, on the second
deck of the Panamanian vessel. It was immediately washed into the
sea.
Furfuryl alcohol
is used in industrial processes and is an irritant that can, in
strong enough concentrations, cause tumors and genetic mutations.
Port workers are still unloading the containers from the
Panamanian vessel, and the condition of the tainted sea-lane is
being closely monitored.
At 5:00 AM Monday, an anchoring Chinese coaster collided with a
tanker of the China Marine Bunker Supply Tianjin Company while it
was being fueled. Oil spilled into the sea, but was brought under
control.
(Xinhua News Agency November 2, 2004)