Over the weekend, two Russian oil tankers were significantly damaged by a heavy storm, spilling thousands of tons of oil products into the Kerch Strait. The strait lies between Russia and Crimea, a region annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
The first tanker, Volgoneft 212 tanker, was severely damaged, split in half with its bow sinking and spilling oil into the sea. The remaining part of the ship continued to drift before running aground. Of the 15 crew members, one died, and 12 were evacuated of which 11 were taken to the hospital, with two in critical condition.
As for the second tanker, Volgoneft 239, it suffered damage before running aground 80 meters from shore near the port of Taman at the south end of the Kerch Strait. The Russian Emergencies Ministry managed to contact the crew but suspended rescue efforts due to bad weather. However, the ministry confirmed the ship had all the necessary facilities to ensure the crew’s safety.
Both tankers have a capacity of 4,200 tons of oil products. Russia has not revealed the full extent of the spill or the cause of the damage. However, due to the fatality, Russian investigators have launched two criminal cases, speculating possible safety violations.
Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that President Vladimir Putin has ordered the formation of a working group to manage the rescue operation and mitigate the impact of the fuel spill. Meanwhile, the country’s natural resources watchdog has sent specialists to assess the damage at the site.
