Two Russian oil tankers were severely damaged in the Black Sea, causing an oil spill. Russian authorities confirmed the incident.
Damaged Tankers and Oil Spill
Footage released by Russia’s Southern Transport Prosecutor’s Office showed one tanker’s bow completely broken off. Moreover, oil streaks were visible in the water. The tankers are believed to have drifted before running aground in the Kerch Strait, which separates Russia from Crimea. At least one crew member is reported dead, and the situation has prompted urgent action.
Rescue Operations Underway
In response, a rescue operation was launched involving tugboats, helicopters, and more than 50 personnel. As a result, 13 crew members were rescued from one tanker. However, the operation had to be suspended due to bad weather conditions. Meanwhile, 14 crew members on the second tanker remain stranded. Fortunately, they have enough supplies for survival, but they will have to wait until the weather improves to be rescued.
Government Response
Following the incident, President Vladimir Putin ordered Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev to lead a working group to address the situation. Authorities have also begun investigating the event for potential criminal negligence. Consequently, steps are being taken to understand the cause of the incident.
Details of the Tankers
Shipping analyst Michelle Bockmann from Lloyd’s List provided more details, stating that the two damaged tankers are owned by Volgatanker. These smaller tankers each carried 4,300 deadweight tonnes of oil, which is relatively small compared to larger tankers that carry around 120,000 deadweight tonnes. These vessels are likely used for transporting oil along Russia’s rivers or coastal waters.
Importance of the Kerch Strait
The Kerch Strait is a vital route for Russian exports, including grain, crude oil, fuel oil, and liquefied natural gas. This area has seen previous incidents, such as the 2007 oil spill from the tanker Volgoneft-139, which split during a storm and released over 1,000 tonnes of oil.
Sanctions and Ghost Fleet Concerns
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, its oil exports have faced severe sanctions. As a result, Russia has been accused of using a “ghost fleet” of poorly maintained tankers to circumvent these sanctions. However, Bockmann clarified that the tankers involved in this incident were not part of that fleet.