China detects position of sunken oil tanker Sanchi

BEIJING -- China's Ministry of Transportation said on Wednesday that the sunken oil tanker Sanchi has been found, and an underwater robot will carry out further investigation.

A marine surveillance ship detected the sunken tanker Tuesday morning at a depth of 115 meters under the sea. No barriers were found, and waste clearance is underway, the ministry said.

The Shanghai marine search and rescue center dispatched 13 vessels on Tuesday to tackle follow-up issues, maintain order at the site, evacuate nearby merchant and fishing ships, and issue navigational warnings in both Chinese and English.

Oil slicks have been found in waters around the ship that sank. Several ships are performing clean-up operations.

Authorities will strengthen on-site supervision and clearance of the oil spill.

The Panama-registered oil tanker Sanchi, carrying 136,000 tonnes of light crude oil from Iran, collided with the CF Crystal, a Hong Kong-registered bulk freighter, about 300 kilometers east of the Yangtze estuary on Jan. 6.

Thirty-two crew members of the tanker -- 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis -- were lost.