Saving Taiwan's Shores: The Race to Remove Oil from a Stranded Chinese Ship

Off the northeastern coast of Taiwan, a Chinese ship named Yu Zhou Qi Hang found itself in trouble. The ship, carrying three massive cranes from Keelung to China, lost power in rough seas caused by Typhoon Kong-rey. With no control, the ship drifted towards Yehliu Geopark, where it ran aground. This wasn't just any ship; it was loaded with 284 tons of oil—247 tons of heavy fuel oil and 37 tons of light diesel oil. Imagine seeing cranes above the water, one barely standing and another touching the rocky shore. That's what an AFP photographer witnessed on Friday. The ship, a 143-meter heavy load carrier built in 2012, was in a critical situation.

Taiwan's coast guard quickly moved to rescue the 17 crew members on board. The main challenge now was to remove the oil before it leaked into the environment. Authorities planned to start the recovery process on Friday afternoon, hoping to finish within two to three days. Minister Kuan Bi-ling of the Ocean Affairs Council reassured everyone, stating that no oil had leaked yet. "Nature is merciful, " she said, "and the oil tank was not damaged. " Oil spill containment booms were already in place to prevent any potential leaks. Typhoon Kong-rey, one of the biggest to hit Taiwan in decades, had already made landfall. It left a trail of destruction, with two deaths and 580 injuries reported. The storm weakened as it crossed the Taiwan Strait, but its impact was still significant.

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