Russian Oil Tanker Split Apart in Storm, Resulting in Oil Spill in Kerch Strait

A Russian oil tanker, the Volgoneft 212, split apart during a severe storm on Sunday, resulting in an oil spill in the Kerch Strait. Another tanker, the Volgoneft 239, also faced difficulties after sustaining damage. At least one person was reported dead.

The 136-meter Volgoneft 212, which had 15 crew members on board, was shown in state media footage being split in half, with its bow sinking and waves crashing over its deck. Built in 1969, the vessel was reported to have run aground and suffered significant damage.

Russia’s water transport agency, Rosmorrechflot, confirmed the spill of petroleum products. The second tanker, the 132-meter Volgoneft 239, was left drifting with a crew of 14 and was built in 1973. Both tankers have a loading capacity of approximately 4 200 tonnes of oil products.

Official reports did not specify the extent of the oil spill or the reasons behind the severe damage to the Volgoneft 212. The incidents occurred in the Kerch Strait, located between mainland Russia and Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. In response, Russia deployed over 50 personnel and equipment, including Mi-8 helicopters and rescue tugboats, to the area.

According to Russia’s Kommersant newspaper, the Volgoneft 212 was carrying around 4 300 tonnes of fuel oil. Unverified videos shared on Telegram depicted darkened water in the stormy seas alongside the half-submerged tanker.