INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Authorities in Far East Russias Sakhalin area are preparing to pump fuel from a Chinese cargo ship that ran aground off its coast overnight
Sunday.Sakhalin region Governor Valery Limarenko declared a high alert in the Nevelsky district, where the bulk carrier An Yang 2 with 20
crew members became stranded 200 meters (650 feet) offshore.The ship is carrying 700 metric lots of fuel oil, 100 lots of diesel fuel and
1,000 tons of coal, but no spills have been reported so far.Limarenko stated emergency teams began setting up booms around the vessel on
Monday to avoid a prospective spill, though storm conditions have prevented rescuers from reaching the ship.We anticipate the waves to
soothe by evening or nighttime so we can get closer to the vessel and decide what to do, Limarenko said in a video posted on Telegram.The
vessels owners have actually offered us permission beforehand to collect all the fuel on board, he added, without naming the company.One of
the governors aides said that the fuel will be stored in Sakhalin up until the ships owner declares it.Limarenko stated he anticipates the
rescue operation to begin Tuesday.
