A Japanese chemical tanker vessel reportedly crashed into a cargo vessel off southwestern Japan’s coast, the coast guard informed on Saturday.
None of the six Japan-based crew members have suffered any injuries onboard the tanker named Ryoshinmaru and 14 crew members from China onboard the Belize-registered cargo vessel named the Xin Hai 99.
Video Credits: KyodoNews
The crash that took place on Saturday was under inspection and both vessels were anchored in the area, approximately 3.5 kilometers off the Wakayama prefecture, per the information shared by a Kushimoto Coast Guard official.
A small amount of oil leaked from the cargo ship’s engine area. The vessel initially started sinking, but it was soon brought under control, the officials mentioned.
The tanker departed from the Kobe port to collect chemicals from another Japanese port and didn’t have chemicals on it when the accident took place.
Divers were also sent to the accident site and GPS records aimed at determining the cause of this accident. The Chinese crew members told the coast guard that the tanker had veered toward them, the official mentioned.
References: npr, Independent, East Coast Daily, Saudi Gazette