Maritime rescuers say they had completely cleaned up a 50-ton gasoline spill on the Huangpu River yesterday, which resulted from a collision between an oil tanker and a cargo vessel on Saturday morning.

Authorities were concerned the spill could lead to an explosion, particularly as it was located only a few dozen meters from a river bank that is home to several oil refineries. Pollution of the river and tap water sources was also a concern.

Chaoyangping No. 8, an oil tanker registered in Zhejiang Province, was carrying 3,000 tons of gasoline to the Gaoqiao Oil Purchase and Supply Station in Pudong just before noon on Saturday when Wushan, a 3,000-ton cargo vessel from Fujian Province, rammed into it.

The collision took place near a dock on Jungong Road. Sailors on the oil tanker said the cargo ship was banking out of its berth to leave the port when it crashed into the tanker. The oil vessel's first mate, Yu Songbo, said the cargo vessel failed to sound its siren three times before backing up, as required by rules, which led to the accident.

Cleanup workers spent more than four hours removing all of the fuel from the tanker, and then cleaned up a 20-meter-long stretch of spilled fuel.

The collision left two holes in the side of the oil vessel and two oil-storage cabins on its right side began to pour gasoline into the river.

The captain immediately ordered the crew to open the spare cargo holds to take in fuel from the broken cabins, but sailors quickly lost control of the situation.

Escorted by alert maritime patrol boats, the oil tanker arrived at the Gaoqiao oil station just after 1pm.

"Gasoline vaporizes very quickly under the sun," said an unidentified maritime official. "The gas vapors are very dangerous in terms of causing explosions."

Nearly 100 firefighters and at least seven fire engines arrived on the scene to prevent a blast.

Firefighters continually sprayed the air with water to dilute gas fumes, and police blocked off a 1 kilometer area around the dock.

Pedestrians walking past the area were told to turn off any electronic devices to avoid creating a spark.

Several witnesses said when the ship first arrived at the dock they could hardly breathe because the air was filled with a strong smell of gasoline.

All of the oil still stored on the ship after the collision was successfully transferred to the oil station early yesterday morning.

Meanwhile, maritime authorities were still looking for a couple from Jiangsu Province who went missing in the river after their small coal vessel was in a collision with a 5,000-ton container ship and capsized on Friday evening.
Despite the ongoing efforts, authorities said the chances of finding the couple alive were very slim.

(Shanghai Daily September 19, 2005)