2010-07-22 16:49

DALIAN - An oil tanker berthed at northeast China's Dalian Xingang Harbor Thursday for the first time since an oil pipe explosion at the harbor six days ago.

The "Changhang Fengcai" left a temporary anchorage at 7:37 am and berthed at the Xingang Harbor at 9:48 am.

The tanker, belonging to China Changjiang National Shipping Cooperation, is scheduled to take on 35,000 tons of oil at Xingang Harbor, but the loading operation is yet to begin.

On Tuesday, harbor authorities lifted a partial ban on maritime traffic at Dalian. But local officials said oil shipments from Dalian would not be restored immediately.

Two crude pipelines exploded in Xingang Port late on Friday after a 300,000-ton tanker had unloaded its oil. The tanker left the harbor safely.