The Liberian chemical tanker ‘Cyrano’ broke down recently on the Yangtze River near Zhenjiang Runyang Bridge on its way from Jiangyin to Nanjing, according to a China News Services story. The LNG carrier was drifting dangerously downstream in an area where there is also a common-user vehicle ferry.

Zhenjiang Marine Safety officials activated the emergency rescue code, dispatched a rescue team to the tanker and alerted all vessels in the vicinity to watch out and give way. The rescue team managed to secure the vessel and within half of an hour of the breakdown, the engine was repaired and the vessel was taken to a safe anchorage for further examination.

Zhenjiang maritime authorities have reported an unprecedented increase in the number of international chemical carriers calling at the local port in recent months. In September alone, 117 international vessels arrived in Zhenjiang carrying dangerous goods, up 58 per cent year-on-year and 7.3 per cent over the previous month.