Oil Leak Causes Salvage Effort for Grounded Tanker to be Suspended [Video]

The Japan Coastguard is reporting that efforts to remove a small tanker that grounded earlier in the week have been suspended. The majority of the crew was evacuated from the ship after it shifted while an investigation was seeking the source of an oil slick that formed on Wednesday, January 8.

The vessel, the 5,000 dwt Sanwa Maru, grounded at the southern end of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. Asahi Tanker Company confirmed the incident reporting the vessel grounded around 1830 on January 6. Initial reports said there were no injuries and that the vessel had not suffered damage.

The Japan Coastguard dispatched vessels and there was an attempt on January 7 to pull the tanker which is owned by Wako Kisen off the rocks. They were unable to dislodge the vessel and additional tugs were being dispatched.

This morning however the crew of the vessel reported the ship had shifted listing 5 degrees to starboard and …