UPDATE 05:40 p.m. with authorities abandoning plan to tow away the ship in favor of removing fuel

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Chinese cargo vessel stranded near Taiwan’s north coast during Typhoon Kong-rey is a pollution risk, reports said Thursday (Oct. 31).

The 17 crew members were evacuated from the “Yu Zhou Qi Hang” on Tuesday after it lost engine power. The operation was complicated by rough seas and by the presence of three gantry cranes on deck.

New Taipei City Government said the ship had started to list, while a tugboat tasked with moving the vessel had not arrived at the scene yet, per CNA. The authorities later abandoned the plan to tow away the ship, focusing on the risk of pollution instead.

Beginning Saturday (Nov. 1) afternoon, work would start on syphoning off fuel from the ship, CNA reported. The ship contained 37 tons of diesel, 247 tons of heavy oil, and 6,280 liters of lubricating oil.

At present, there was only limited risk of oil escaping from the ship. During the typhoon Thursday, four oil containment fences were set up in the area. They are intended to protect the fishing harbors of Dongao, Yehliu and Guikong and the No. 2 nuclear power station from pollution.

According to observers posted near the vessel, no oil leaks have occurred yet. The fences will help limit damage to the coastline.

An emergency  relief  team is standing by near Yehliu Geopark with extra equipment in case of fuel leaks from the Chinese ship.