BEIJING (Reuters) - Oil imports were still restricted at the major Chinese port of Dalian on Tuesday following a fire and oil slick, while China recruited an additional 500 fishing boats to help with the clean-up.
Refinery operations have been disrupted and cargoes diverted since a pipeline explosion and fire hit the Xingang port, home to a 19 million barrel strategic petroleum reserve, during a tanker offloading last Friday, spilling 1,500 tonnes of crude into the sea to leave a slick covering 183 sq km (71 sq miles).
State news agency Xinhua said on Tuesday that container operations had returned to normal, and shipping lanes were open after temporary restrictions following the accident were lifted at 5 p.m. local time (0900 GMT) on Tuesday.
