Dalian boxes move again after explosion, fire, oil spill

THE Port of Dalian is said to have resumed normal container operations after a fire, explosion and a major oil spill when two pipelines exploded at the tanker terminal, reported Xinhua.

An official in the State Oceanic Administration has told Chinese official media that heavy winds on Monday broke up the spill and dispersed over at least 430 square kilometres, reported the BBC.


"Container operations restarted on Monday evening, and in the 12 hours to 8am on Tuesday the port handled 11,000 TEU," said a Xinhua report transmitted by Reuters.


Oil and bulk berths were shut following the fire, sources have told Reuters, but later reports said the dry bulk terminals were again functioning.



Shipments of oil from the north to the industrial belt in the south have been disrupted, reported the BBC. Reserves in the south are reported to be ample at present - enough to guarantee 10 days` supply - and the oil price in that part of the country is stable.


An investigation team has been established to examine the pipeline explosions with authorities saying the results will not come for at least 10 days, reported the state-run Beijing Review.



The incident happened after a 300,000-ton tanker discharged its oil at harbour, which caused an explosion at two pipelines owned by the China National Petroleum Corporation, said the Beijing Review.


All major fires at the site have now been extinguished. One member of the Dalian fire department was said to have drown in the thick oil covering the parts of the harbour.


Bloomberg reported that the operator of an oil terminal where an explosion took place is seeking the cause and accessing its impact the company`s operations, according to a statement filed to the Hong Kong stock exchange.


The company has started the process of claiming on its insurance policies for the accident, it said. Dalian Port said all terminals in the Xingang and Dayaowan areas of its port where the incident occurred have resumed operations apart from the crude oil terminal.