Ship spills tons of oil into sea after it runs aground and splits in two in Japan (photos)

A Panamanian-registered ship ran aground in Japan on Thursday, August 12, splitting in two, but no deaths were recorded, the Japan Coast Guard has announced in a statement 

The ship split in two and started leaking oil, but there were no injuries among the 21 crew.

The vessel, which was at the end of a voyage from Thailand, split in two and the coast guard say the oil leak was being controlled with no signs that it had reached shore.

The 39,910-ton vessel, the “Crimson Polaris,” was carrying wood chips when it ran aground on in Hachinohe harbor.

It managed to free itself, but due to poor weather was unable to move far and ended up anchoring about 4 kilometers (2.4 miles) out from the port.

An oil slick 5.1 kilometers long by about 1 kilometer wide was visible later in the day, but containment measures were being taken by patrol boats.

The vessel’s two parts have not moved and are being closely monitored by patrol boats, the Coast Guard statement added.