Incredible image: a cargo ship broke in the middle off the coast of Japan

08/12/2021 15:52

• Clarín.com

• International

Updated 08/12/2021 3:52 PM

A cargo ship carrying chip was swept away by a heavy storm off the northwest coast of Japan and

ended up split in two

, although the crew was able to be rescued, according to the Japanese coast guard and the shipping company.

It is the

Crimson Polaris

, under the Panamanian flag, which had been chartered by the NYK company, and which sank 4 kilometers off the coast of Japan

causing the fuel to spill.

As reported on its website by the company, the Crimson Polaris "was blown away by a strong wind while at anchor and, as a result, ran aground off Hachinohe in Aomori prefecture around 7.35 AM" yesterday in Japan (19:35 Tuesday in Argentina).

They investigate how many liters of fuel spilled into the sea.

Although at first the company assured that "fortunately, there has been no contamination by hydrocarbons" in the area, hours later, in a second statement, NYK admitted that "the oil from the vessel spilled into the ocean.

The amount is currently under investigation. "

According to images released by the Japanese coast guard, the stern of the freighter is practically sunk although the rest of the Crimson Polaris,

a ship of about 200 meters

and built in 2008,

is still afloat

, according to information from NYK.

Three patrol boats and three planes were mobilized after it ran aground.

All 21 Chinese and Filipino crew members were able to be rescued.

The crew was rescued on time and there were no injuries.

Authorities tried to contain the oil spill but were unable to deploy the barrier around the ship, a company spokesman said.

"The patrol boats will work at night" to avoid collisions, the spokesperson said, adding that no other vessels were known to be involved in the accident.

In a statement, the company reported that it "has organized a crisis management center led by NYK President Hitoshi Nagasawa to quickly address the situation. Company personnel have been dispatched to the site and the necessary support will be provided to the owner. of the ship and the ship's management company. We hope that the situation reaches a safe and timely conclusion. "