“Human error” blamed for deadly Sanchi tanker tragedy
An Iran-led panel investigating a tanker tragedy that claimed the lives of 32 people off China’s shores in January has identified “human error” for causing what is believed to have been the worst oil ship disaster in decades.
The incident involved the collision of Sanchi - which was run by Iran's top oil shipping operator the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) - with a wheat-carrying Chinese vessel named CF Crystal.
It took place at off the coast of China near Shanghai and the mouth of the Yangtze River Delta on January 6, 2018.
The Sanchi - which was carrying condensates for South Korea - eventually sank after burning for eight days. The entire crew of 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis on board the ship are presumed dead.
Nader Pasandideh, the head of the Iranian delegation in a panel formed to study the incident, told reporters a change in the course of CF Crystal was to blame for the tragedy. The Chinese ship, Pasandideh said, had failed to change its course even though Sanchi had warned it to do so 15 minutes before the incident.
Source: PressTV