NewsRussian tankers falter in Kerch Strait, spark oil crisis

Russian tankers falter in Kerch Strait, spark oil crisis

Another Russian tanker has broken down in the Kerch Strait, reported Reuters agency, citing Russian media. This time, there was no oil spill. The Volgoneft 212, Volgoneft 239, and Volgoneft 109 are old ships built in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Another Russian tanker broke down in the Kerch Strait [illustrative photo]
Another Russian tanker broke down in the Kerch Strait [illustrative photo]
Images source: © Getty Images | 2020 VCG

Volgoneft 109, which broke down on Tuesday, was transporting 4,000 tonnes (approximately 4,400 short tons) of heating oil. The damage to the ship occurred in the Kerch Strait, where on Sunday two other tankers suffered breakdowns: Volgoneft 212 broke in half, and Volgoneft 239 ran aground.

As a result of Sunday's breakdown, fuel oil leaked into the sea. Russian media report that over 3,000 tonnes (approximately 3,300 short tons) of the substance could have entered the Kerch Strait, posing a significant environmental threat, although the total amount of fuel transported on both damaged tankers on Sunday was about 9,000 tonnes (approximately 9,900 short tons).

On Tuesday, the independent portal Moscow Times reported that some oil-based pollution had settled on the coast of Krasnodar Krai, near the resort of Anapa.

Removing fuel oil from beaches

The portal published photos showing cleanup crews removing fuel oil stains from the beaches. - Petroleum products settled on dozens of kilometres (approximately 62 miles) of coastline - conveyed the governor of Krasnodar Krai, Veniamin Kondratyev, on Telegram.

Reuters agency and independent media conveyed that Volgoneft 212, Volgoneft 239, and Volgoneft 109 are old ships built in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

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