A container ship that ran aground during a storm in northern Taiwan broke apart and began to spill harmful substances into the sea on Friday. Authorities are stepping up the effort to contain the spill.
The TS Lines-owned ship, TS Taipei, ran onto the shallow waters near the shore of New Taipei City. The ship was sailing from Hong Kong to Keelung Port on March 10 when a storm pushed the ship aground.
The 15,487-ton vessel's 21 crew members were safely evacuated. However, two died and one was severely injured in a helicopter crash during the rescue and cleanup operation.
According to TS Lines officials, it may take seven days to remove the oil slick. Because of the stormy weather, efforts to remove and clean up the oil spill have been restricted, they said. Boats designated to pump and remove oil leakage cannot reach the site.
Taiwanese Premier Simon Chang demanded TS Lines speed up the removal of the spill by shortening the work schedule. The management responded with a five-day schedule to be implemented once the weather improves.
The company has already deployed more than 100 workers to remove the spill.
Taiwan's Environmental Protection Minister Wei Kuo-yen said the administration is using radar, unmanned aerial vehicles, and satellites to monitor the disaster.
The vessel also contains toxic chemicals. Some its 600 shipping containers fell overboard into the sea. The ship contains 20 tons of potassium perchlorate, 19.5 tons of fats, 18.2 tons of toluene, 11 tons of paint, 8.5 tons of corrosive liquids, and 6 tons of flammable lubricants, Indonesian authorities said.
The shipwreck, which is near a fishing port, has already polluted the northeastern shore of Shihmen with the heavy oil spill. Environmentalists are alarmed that if the oil spill is not contained in a short period, it will cause great damage to the ecosystem lasting to two to three years.
