Easter Maritime Disaster
A container ship grounded a few days ago off New Taipei City in Taiwan has broken in two and leaking oil into the sea.
The 15,487-ton ship, TS Taipei, belonging to T. S. Lines, ran aground in a storm about 300 metres from the shore on her way from Hong Kong to Keelung Port in Taiwan on March 10.
Though All 21 crew members were evacuated safely, a helicopter involved in the Search and Rescue/clean up operation reportedly crashed, killing two and seriously injuring others.
Stormy weather continues to hampered efforts to remove fuel from the vessel which is carrying about 240 tons fuel oil and 35 tons of lube oil.
T.S. Lines had originally estimated that it would take seven days to remove the fuel and lube, but Premier Simon Chang demanded the work schedule to be shortened. The company has now indicated five days is possible as weather conditions improve.
Minister of Taiwan’s Environmental protection Agency, EPA, Wei Kuo-yen said the country is using radar, satellite and unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor the ship and oil spill.

Over 600 containers have fallen overboard. The containers are listed as containing 20 tons of potassium perchlorate, 18.2 tons of toluene, 19.5 tons of fats, 8.5 tonnes of corrosive liquids and six tons of flammable lubricants and 11 tons of paint.

Hundreds of persons made of rescue/savage professionals and volunteers are working at containing the ecological damage.