Japan confirms oil from wrecked tanker hitting its beaches

Chinese never stopped fishing in area.

90 tons already collected! How much more oil is still out there drifting?

The Sanchi caught fire after colliding with a bulk freighter in early January, setting off a desperate rescue mission by authorities. The bodies of only three of its 32 crew have been found so far.

You really have to wonder to yourself what buffoons are roving around on the high seas in these behemoths! Mandatory FULL Life prison sentences for Captains and Commanders of vessels over a certain size carrying materials toxic to the environment who are negligent and or cause death to their crews would help wake them all up! Perhaps the threat of shutting down the shipping company’s responsible would help them to impress upon their Captains not to s@%*w up! Two large vessels smacking into each other in the middle of the ocean has to make both Captains top contenders for the “Idiots of the decade” award!

At least 16 islands in the area saw oil reach their shores, and residents have collected a total of 90 tonnes of oil in their cleanup efforts,

Locals? No support for the clean up from the ministry of environment land and infrastructure? That is so Japan! 90 tons is 9 of those fuel tankers you see filling up tanks at gas stands, except they are hauling gasoline. This is thick crude oil with a consistency close to molasses. Disgraceful!

Instead of Tokyo launching intensive studies, they should be launching money and resources to clean up this mess. It should be considered a national disaster. I hope to god this oil slick is taken care of before summer and doesn't come up the eastern seaboard. If not we're going to have a lot of sick surfers and swimmers out there.

How many soldiers in Okinawa? All should be mobilized working 24 hrs.

Factors such as lightness of the crude carried vs. other grades, type of creatures effected (seals, sheep, salmon), and sea conditions (extreme, resulting in swift dispersal and evaporation) all mitigate environmental impact. So each major oil spill is unique and local. Unlike DEEPWATER HORIZON, we know the maximum amount of oil that may be leaked.

I would like to know, who is going to pay for this clean up? the Japanese government, the insurance co?