HAKODATE, Hokkaido — A Japanese fuel tanker that ran aground off Cape Esan in Hakodate on January 6 has leaked fuel oil into the sea, though its larger cargo of diesel and kerosene remains intact, local authorities said.
The Sanwa Maru, a 3,919-ton vessel owned by Wako Kisen of Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, was carrying 3,800 kiloliters of diesel and kerosene. These fuels have not leaked, officials confirmed. However, the ship spilled some of its own fuel oil after striking a rocky shoreline just 20 meters from land.
On January 8, the Japan Coast Guard discovered an oil slick stretching roughly 2.7 kilometers long and 1 kilometer wide. This occurred as crews prepared to tow the vessel from the reef in the Tsugaru Strait.
All 11 crew members escaped injury. Seven were later rescued by a patrol vessel, while four remained to support the salvage effort.
According to the Hakodate Coast Guard, another tanker first alerted authorities at 6:20 p.m. on January 6 that the Sanwa Maru was veering dangerously close to land. The ship was en route from Tomakomai Port in Hokkaido to Funagawa Port in Akita Prefecture. Sea conditions were calm at the time.
The vessel was loaded with 59 kiloliters of fuel oil A and 140 kiloliters of fuel oil C. Damage was later observed near the ship’s stern, close to its fuel tanks. By the morning of January 8, the vessel had reported a spill, prompting the crew to deploy an oil containment fence along the port side.
As of midday on January 8, oil odors were noticeable onshore, and slicks were visible on rocks and nearby wave-damping structures.
A salvage attempt on January 7 failed to dislodge the ship from the reef. The Sanwa Maru remained tilted five degrees to starboard.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the grounding. The shipowner and salvage company will determine next steps based on the extent of the fuel leak and environmental impact.
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