Officials confirm that one crew member has died after two Russian oil tankers became damaged during a storm at sea, resulting in an oil spill and an emergency rescue operation
At least one person has died after two Russian oil tankers became badly damaged during a storm.
Damage to two Russian oil tankers during a storm in the Kerch Strait has caused an oil spill, sparking an emergency rescue operation with at least one person confirmed dead, Russian officials have told state news outlets.
The Volgoneft-212 tanker is believed to have been carrying 13 crew members and a cargo of fuel oil, but ran aground and had its bow torn away. The second tanker, the Volgoneft-239 was also damaged, with 14 crew members on board and ran aground 80 metres from the shore, close to the port of Taman in Russia’s Krasnodar region.
Some reports have said at least one of the vessels later sank, and officials have confirmed the death of one crew member, but that rescue operations were able to evacuate the remaining sailors.
Together, the two ships were carrying almost 9,000 tons of mazut — a heavy, low-grade fuel oil. Social media footage from the scene showed a black slick of liquid among the waves.
Russian officials confirmed the oil spill, but stated that experts were still working to assess the extent of the spill and its impact.
Earlier reports shared that a tugboat arrived at the site of the sinking and rescuers were reportedly attempting to lift crewmen aboard. A helicopter from the Russian Emergencies Ministry also flew to help the crew in the Kerch Straight this morning.
Difficult weather conditions including strong winds and large sea waves are thought to be responsible for the damage to the two ships, as well as a break in one of the ship’s welded ‘seam’ that is supposed to keep the vessel intact.
“There is a crew of 13 people onboard,” the Russian Emergencies Ministry for the disputed Republic of Crimea said at the time of the incident. “There are also oil products on the vessel, information about the spill is being clarified.”
Readovka media outlet reported: “According to preliminary data, a hole was formed in the hull due to strong waves, after which the ship broke in half and began to sink.”
One unconfirmed report stated: “Volgoneft-212 was built 55 years ago. It was originally a regular tanker, and in the 1990s it was shortened to ‘river-sea’ standards [meaning it could operate in both rivers and the sea].
“Everything was done in a hurry….they cut out the centre [of the vessel] and then welded the stern and bow, forming a huge seam in the middle. Today, this seam came apart after a powerful wave hit.”
The Russian Emergencies Ministry also confirmed that the Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239 were sinking. More than 50 specialists and 11 pieces of equipment were involved in eliminating the consequences.
“Today, during a storm, the waves hit them in the side and ‘tore’ the welded seam. Each had 4,000 tons of fuel oil in the tanks – some of it leaked out of the tanks, forming black spots in the sea,” the report added.
The Kerch Strait separates the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula from Russia and is an important global shipping route, providing passage from the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea.
However, it has been a point of conflict between Russia and Ukraine, after Moscow annexed the peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. Later, in 2016, Ukraine took Moscow to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, where it accused Russia of trying to illegally seize control of the area.
