Oil tanker crashes near Crimea – Moscow is struggling with the consequences

After the accident involving two Russian oil tankers in a severe storm in the Kerch Strait, the crew of the second ship is also safe, according to authorities.

The government in Moscow announced that 14 crew members of the “Wolganeft 239” were brought ashore in the Taman region of southern Russia. After the oil leak, the extent of the environmental disaster is still unclear. Civil defense used helicopters to measure the size of the oil slick. Both tankers are said to have loaded a total of 9,000 tons of heating oil. At least one crew member of a tanker was killed in the accident on Sunday.

Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has ordered a command to be set up to deal with the environmental disaster. The national investigative authority is investigating the violation of safety regulations. Both accidents involving identical ships occurred on Sunday morning within about an hour and a half.

According to authorities, the tanker “Volgoneft 212” suffered a crack in the hull in stormy seas. Twelve crew members were rescued, one man died. The tanker “Volgoneft 239” ran aground about 80 meters off the coast of Taman in the Russian Krasnodar region. The oil slick drifts between the Russian coast and the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Moscow, near the bridge there.

Greenpeace in Ukraine fears environmental damage

The incident occurred in high waves between the Russian mainland and Crimea. The Kerch Strait connects the Black Sea and the Sea of ​​Azov. A storm warning was issued in Crimea, which is part of Ukraine under international law.

The Ukrainian office of the environmental organization Greenpeace warned of a new environmental catastrophe. The organization believes that the leaking oil will be difficult to contain due to the current weather conditions. If washed ashore it will pollute the coast and be very difficult to clean up, the statement said. Above all, further leakage of heating oil must be prevented. Greenpeace recalled an oil spill in the region in 2007 that had serious consequences for the environment. A Russian tanker also had an accident at that time. Many Russian oil tankers are considered obsolete. (sda/dpa)

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