Oil Spill Reported In Kerch Strait After 2 Russian Oil Tankers Damaged In Powerful Storm

A powerful storm in the Kerch Strait damaged two Russian oil tankers, leading to an oil spill and emergency rescue operations, with one tanker later sinking, per reports.

The Volgoneft-212 tanker carried a 13-member crew and fuel oil cargo. Its bow was torn before it ran aground, killing a crew member though others were safely rescued in the rescue operation, per Tass News Agency.

The second tanker, Volgoneft-239 also suffered damage and drifted with 14 crew onboard, later running aground 80 m from the coast near the Taman Port in Russia’s Krasnodar region. A rescue operation is being planned.

The two tankers carried around 9000 tonnes of mazut, a heavy, low-grade fuel oil and footage circulating on social media showed a black slick of liquid in the sea.

The oil spill was confirmed by Russian officials but experts were working to assess the impact and extent of the incident.

The Kerch Strait is a vital maritime route and provides passage from the Azov Sea to the Black Sea.

The Strait has been a conflicted area since Russia annexed it from Ukraine in 2014. In 2016, Ukraine took Russia to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, accusing Moscow of illegally seizing its territory. In 2021, it remained closed for many months.

References: AP News, BBC

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