Rescuers boarded Iranian tanker SANCHI: 2 bodies found, horror live

Rescuers boarded Iranian tanker SANCHI: 2 bodies found, horror live
Mikhail Voytenko January 13, 2018 http://maritimebulletin.net/2018/01/13/rescuers-boarded-iranian-tanker-s...

Team of four Chinese rescuers boarded tanker SANCHI at 0837 Beijing time Jan 13, they’ve been lifted to stern deck by a crane of offshore supply tug SHEN QIAN HAO (IMO 9648570), deployed in SANCHI rescue operation. They found bodies of two dead crew on lifeboat deck, they moved further and entered bridge, which was empty of people or bodies.

Team wasn’t able to go deeper into superstructure, living quarters and engine room, because of too high temperature. At 0903 they returned to SHEN QIAN HAO, taking bodies of perished seamen with them. Wind in the area is around 10 met/sec, waves 2 meters high. Some 9 or more vessels, deployed in rescue operation, are positioned near tanker. Photos of this first boarding of Iranian tanker remind a horror movie.

Previous news:
January 7, 2018 11:22 am:
Crude oil tanker SANCHI collided with bulk carrier CF CRYSTAL at around 1800 Beijing time Jan 6 east of Yangtze river estuary in East China sea sea, according to Chinese sources. SANCHI loaded with 136,000 tons of crude oil was en route from Iran to Korea, while CF CRYSTAL loaded with 64,000 tons of grain was en route from USA to Guandong China. Fire erupted on board of SANCHI after collision, making rescue extremely difficult. There are talks and news about SANCHI capsizing, but it’s highly improbably outcome, and according to latest updates tanker engulfed in fire is afloat. In the morning Jan 7 a fleet of SAR ships and patrol ships and boats was deployed in SAR. It is said, that SANCHI 32 crew are missing, but it doesn’t mean they are dead, most probably they can’t be rescued yet with such big fire raging on.
Cost of oil on SANCHI board is estimated to be of some $60 mil.

No information as to collision details, most probably both ships are guilty, though in different proportions.
Bulk carrier suffered comparatively small damages, meaning that CF CRYSTAL, most probably, struck SANCHI.
Crude oil tanker SANCHI, IMO 9356608, dwt 164154, built 2008, flag Panama, manager National Iranian Tanker Company NITC.
Bulk carrier CF CRYSTAL, IMO 9497050, dwt 75725, built 2011, flag Hong Kong, manager SHANGHAI CP INTERNATIONAL SHIP MANAGEMENT & BROKER CO. LTD.