Russia to Remedy Kerch Strait Oil Spill Aftermath

Sinking of a Russian oil tanker in the Kerch Strait. Dec. 15. 2024. X/ @Capt_Navy

December 15, 2024 Hour: 12:22 pm

Over 8,000 tons of fuel spilled by two oil tankers could damage the ecosystems of the Crimean peninsula.

On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the creation of a task force to address the aftermath of the oil spill in the Kerch Strait, which separates the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The spill occurred following accidents involving two oil tankers during a storm.

“The task force will be responsible for organizing rescue operations and addressing the consequences of the fuel spill,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced.

The group will be headed by Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev and will include the ministers of Emergency Situations and Natural Resources and Ecology. Authorities are assessing the extent of the contaminated area, which could reach nearby beaches and harm the ecosystem along the coast near the Crimean Peninsula.

Both oil tankers, each over 130 meters in length, were carrying a combined total of more than 8,000 tons of fuel. Environmentalists warn that if the oil slick reaches the shore, the pollution levels and its severity will escalate further.

Two vessels, the "Volgoneft-212" and "Volgoneft-239," are experiencing distress in the Kerch Strait near the coast. Reports indicate they sustained damage from waves. Personnel are aboard both ships, and a rescue operation is in progress. The vessels are carrying fuel oil#Sea pic.twitter.com/PCs6AtrtpW
— Chronology (@Chronology22) December 15, 2024

The tankers involved in the accidents are the Bolgoneft 212 and the Bolgoneft 239, both built over 50 years ago. The first ship broke in two about 7-8 kilometers from the shore, resulting in oil leaking into the sea. The Bolgoneft 212 reportedly had 13 crew members, of whom 12 were rescued alive. Eleven sailors were hospitalized in the city of Anapa with symptoms of hypothermia, two of them in serious condition.

The Bolgoneft 239 drifted for several hours before eventually running aground approximately 80 meters from the shore in the Krasnodar region. “Its 14 crew members are still on board. Communication with them is ongoing, and their evacuation is being planned,” emergency services reported.

Around 50 personnel, two tugboats, and two Mi-8 helicopters are involved in the rescue operations for the two tankers. The cause of the accidents is believed to be strong gusts of wind at the entrance to the strait and heavy waves. These adverse weather conditions likely caused navigation errors by the crews.