MV Sanchi

The Vessel

The MV Sanchi was a Panamanian-flagged Suezmax-class crude oil tanker, built at the Rongsheng Heavy Industries yard at Nantong, China in 2008. She was 274 metres long, 164,154 deadweight tons, and powered by a diesel engine producing approximately 22,000 horsepower. Her specific design was a Suezmax oil tanker: the largest vessel size capable of transiting the Suez Canal in loaded condition.

She was owned by the Iranian National Iranian Tanker Company and operated on the Middle East oil export trade. Her specific cargo was Iranian condensate oil (a specific lighter grade of crude oil with high volatility); the specific condensate cargo was consigned to South Korean refineries.

Her master on her final voyage was Captain Houshang Tehrani, 52, an Iranian career merchant marine officer. Her complement on 6 January 2018 was 32 crew: 30 Iranian and 2 Bangladeshi merchant marine personnel.

The Voyage

On 6 January 2018, the MV Sanchi was transiting the East China Sea, en route from Kharg Island, Iran to Daesan, South Korea, carrying approximately 1 million barrels (approximately 136,000 tonnes) of Iranian condensate oil cargo. The specific voyage was a standard Persian Gulf-to-Asia crude transit.

The specific weather conditions in the East China Sea on the night of 6 January 2018 were substantially unfavourable: wind force 7-8; moderate visibility; sea state approximately 3-4 metre waves.

At approximately 20:00 on 6 January 2018, Sanchi was approximately 300 kilometres east of Shanghai, China, at approximately 31 degrees north, 124 degrees east. The specific position was in one of the busiest commercial shipping areas in the world; multiple commercial vessels were transiting the area simultaneously.

The specific other vessel relevant to the disaster was the Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier CF Crystal, a 225-metre, 75,725-deadweight-ton bulk carrier on a southwesterly course carrying approximately 64,000 tonnes of grain cargo.

The specific critical navigational situation was a crossing-traffic configuration at night in restricted visibility. The specific responsibilities under COLREGS required careful coordination; the specific conditions complicated the navigational management.

The Disaster

At approximately 20:00 on 6 January 2018, the Sanchi and CF Crystal collided in the East China Sea approximately 300 kilometres east of Shanghai. The specific collision was a substantial impact at approximately 10-12 knots closing speed.

The specific immediate consequence of the collision was catastrophic for Sanchi: the specific impact ignited the volatile condensate cargo aboard the Iranian tanker. The resulting explosion and fire engulfed Sanchi and produced one of the most intense oil-tanker fires in history.

The specific fire aboard Sanchi continued for approximately 8 days (from 6 January through 14 January 2018). The specific intensity of the fire was extraordinary: the specific condensate cargo burned with extreme heat; the specific smoke column was visible from substantial distances; the specific fire-fighting operations were substantially impossible due to the continuing intensity of the fire.

The specific CF Crystal was substantially damaged but did not catch fire. The specific CF Crystal's crew was able to evacuate to lifeboats and was subsequently rescued by Chinese and South Korean rescue vessels.

The specific evacuation of Sanchi was almost entirely unsuccessful. The specific rapid fire development prevented effective evacuation; the specific below-deck accommodation of the crew trapped most crew members aboard; the specific extreme fire conditions prevented rescue operations.

On 14 January 2018, approximately 8 days after the initial collision, MV Sanchi sank in approximately 115 metres of water in the East China Sea. The specific sinking was preceded by progressive structural failure of the burning tanker; the specific sinking was catastrophic and rapid.

The specific environmental impact was substantial. Approximately 85,000 tonnes of condensate oil was released into the East China Sea; the specific condensate pollution was particularly problematic because condensate's specific properties make it much more persistent and environmentally damaging than typical crude oil. The specific pollution affected approximately 100 kilometres of marine area.

Of the 32 crew aboard Sanchi, 32 died: all 30 Iranian and 2 Bangladeshi crew members were killed in the collision, the subsequent fire, or trapped in the burning ship. No survivors were recovered. Captain Tehrani died aboard the ship.

The Legacy

The MV Sanchi disaster of 6-14 January 2018 was the worst oil tanker disaster in the East China Sea and one of the most specifically catastrophic oil-tanker disasters of the twenty-first century.

The subsequent Chinese Maritime Safety Administration investigation, conducted in cooperation with Iranian and international authorities, identified the specific causes: (i) the specific navigational error by both vessels in the crossing-traffic situation; (ii) the specific failure of both vessels to effectively coordinate in restricted visibility; (iii) the specific vulnerability of condensate cargoes to catastrophic fire; (iv) the specific inadequate fire-suppression systems aboard the tanker.

The specific environmental damage from the Sanchi disaster was substantially different from typical oil-spill patterns. The specific condensate properties produced significant surface pollution but much less subsurface accumulation than typical crude oil; the specific long-term environmental recovery patterns were substantially different from the Torrey Canyon or Exxon Valdez patterns.

The specific regulatory response in East Asian maritime operations was substantial. The subsequent Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean maritime authorities coordinated enhanced navigation protocols for the East China Sea; the specific tanker-tanker and tanker-bulk-carrier coordination standards were enhanced.

The specific cultural memory of the Sanchi has been substantial in the Iranian and international merchant marine communities. The specific families of the 32 dead have maintained continuing memorial activities; the specific annual 6 January commemoration at Kharg Island and at the Iranian National Iranian Tanker Company offices has been conducted. The specific 2018 international media coverage of the dramatic 8-day burning ship produced substantial global attention.

The specific salvage operation for Sanchi was substantial but limited. The specific wreck at approximately 115 metres depth was documented by Chinese naval vessels; the specific cargo recovery was substantially impossible due to the condensate properties and the depth. The specific wreck is protected under Chinese cultural heritage legislation.

The 32 dead are commemorated by the Sanchi Memorial at the Iranian National Tanker Company Headquarters, Tehran (dedicated 2019); by memorials at the dead crew members' home communities in Iran and Bangladesh; and by the annual 6 January Memorial Service conducted at Kharg Island, Iran.