It is estimated that the remaining oil and fuel from the severely damaged TS Taipei could be extracted in a week as the weather off Taiwan has improved, the country’s Environmental Protection Department (EPA) said.
After the pumping operations were stopped on Sunday due to another wave of harsh weather conditions, the operations continued yesterday and the owner of the vessel, Hong Kong-based TS Lines, estimated that there could be over 200 tonns of fuel left to be extracted from the 20,615 dwt vessel.
There are also over 600 containers aboard the ship which is lying some 300 meters off the coast, while a number of the containers which fell from the wreck are scattered along the coast.
The following video, which shows the extent of the oil pollution at the coastline and the current state of the grounded vessel, states that one of the alleged concerns that the authorities currently have is that the oil from the ship could get mixed with the cooling water used for the nearby nuclear power station.
The 2006-built containership TS Taipei, which ran aground off Shimen on March 10, started leaking oil after one of its fuel tanks was damaged.
Due to high waves at the site, the authorities could not conduct proper salvage works and the vessel’s hull broke in two , causing a major oil spill in the area.
Due to the extent of the oil pollution, the authorities launched oil clean-up operations at the coastline involving over 400 people.
The oil from the vessel already affected some 2 km of Taiwanese coastline, reportedly.
The EPA added that the coast guard and other relevant personnel will continue to monitor the vessel as it is at risk of capsizing.
World Maritime News Staff; Video Courtesy: Freediver HD