The biggest oil spill since the founding of the People's
Republic of China began on Tuesday when two containerships collided
in the South China Sea near the mouth of the Pearl River on
Tuesday.
One of the ships, the German-registered MSC Ilona, sustained
damage to an oil storage area and began leaking heavily.
The Guangzhou Daily reported that by Thursday morning,
some 450 tons of oil had spilled into the water, creating a slick
17 kilometers long and ranging in width from 20 to 200 meters. It
was situated about 15 kilometers from shore.
The leakage had been stopped by Thursday, while cleanup ships
had contained the spread and were using absorbent material to blot
the oil from the sea.
Neither ship is in danger of sinking nor were any injuries
reported.
No reports were issued on the condition of wildlife in the
area.
The white sea dolphin, one of the most endangered marine
creatures in the world, inhabits the shallow coastal waters of the
South China Sea in the area around the Pearl River estuary. The
dolphins -- sometimes known as the "giant pandas of the sea" -- are
a National Class 1 protected species in China.
According to the Nanfang Daily, the area is also home
to more than 70 varieties of coral and 300 species of fish. An
array of birds lives or winters in the nearby estuary, including
herons and several varieties of spoonbills. Some of these are also
endangered or threatened species.
According to the Ministry of Communications (MOC), which is
responsible for shipping transportation in China, the
Panamanian-registered Hyundai Advance was proceeding from Shenzhen
to Singapore and the Ilona was bound from Shenzhen to Shanghai
when they collided at 9:35 PM.
The MOC has appointed a team headed by Vice Minister Xu Zuyuan
to monitor cleanup and recovery operations. The group urged local
departments to do their best to prevent the spill from extending
further.
Additional cleanup ships have been dispatched from Guangzhou and
Shanghai and are expected to arrive on Thursday or Friday.
Officials say that there is little likelihood that the oil will
significantly damage the shoreline, as a brisk northeasterly wind
is expected to blow it out to sea.
(China.org.cn December 9, 2004)
