Two Russian oil tankers Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, carrying more than 4,000 tonnes of oil products, were severely damaged during a powerful storm near the Kerch Strait in the Black Sea on Sunday.
According to reports, the 55-year-old Volgoneft-212 registered in St. Petersburg, reportedly split in half under the force of intense waves while navigating stormy waters roughly 5 miles (8 kilometers) off the eastern coast of Crimea.
A Pair of Russian Oil Tankers, Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, are currently sinking or have sunk off the Kerch Strait in the Black Sea, after being caught in a Major Storm. Both Ships are said to be carrying Low-Grade Fuel, with a Crew of between 12-15; of which several are in… pic.twitter.com/gr4wpQmEnO
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) December 15, 2024
According to Russia’s Emergencies Ministry for Crimea, the Volgoneft-212 was carrying 4,300 tonnes of mazut, a low-grade heavy fuel oil, at the time of the incident.
Shortly after, another tanker, the Volgoneft-239, also sustained damage in the same area and began to drift, prompting further rescue operations. The Volgoneft-239 was reportedly carrying 4 tonnes of fuel oil.
This is not the first incident involving vessels operated by Kama Shipping, the company managing the Volgoneft series. In 2007, the Volgoneft-139 sank under similar circumstances in the Kerch Strait while carrying 4,000 tonnes of oil, resulting in a major spill.
Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk criticized the Russian authorities, stating: “These are quite old Russian tankers. You can’t go to sea in such a storm. The Russians violated the operating rules. The result is an accident.”
Environmental experts have warned that any major oil spill resulting from the tankers could have catastrophic long-term consequences. Mazut, the fuel oil carried by the Volgoneft-212, is particularly damaging to aquatic ecosystems due to its viscosity and toxicity, which can smother marine life and contaminate water and coastal habitats.
