BOOKED TO CHINESE CARGO, IRAN SANCHI SHAN BURNED AND DIVING

The Iranian government announced Monday (January 15, 2018) as a national day of mourning to honor the 32 crew of the Sanchi oil tanker, who died in Chinese waters. Expectations to find survivors were gone after 8 days of Sanchi oil tanker burned and drowned in a collision with cargo ship in Chinese waters. The Iranian government on Sunday expressed condolences to the families of the victims and families of Iran's oil and marine industry. "Iran is again losing a group of unconditional and hard-working youth," the government statement said. "Brave sailors who lost their lives by accident on the road of service and the progress of national goals, have joined the martyrs," he added.

The Sanchi crew consists of 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshi. The ship owned by National Iran's Tanker Co brings nearly 1 million barrels of condensate to South Korea. It collided with CF Crystal carrying wheat from the United States, about 160 nautical miles offshore near Shanghai. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani sent a message of condolence to the families of the victims and asked for an investigation into the accident. On January 6, 2018, a tanker owned by Iran on its way to South Korea, exploded after being hit by a Chinese cargo ship.

The Iranian tanker carrying South Pars gas condensate for the Total Hanoi South Korean company of 136,000 metric tons is worth about 60 million dollars based on current crude oil prices. The Sanchi registered tanker in Panama, collided with CF Crystal about 160 nautical miles offshore near Shanghai. A total of 32 crew members of 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshi sailors were missing in the incident.