The Volgoneft 212 and the Volgoneft 239 are adrift, but images published on social networks raise fears of a shipwreck and an oil spill.
Off the coast of Crimea, in the Kerch Strait, which separates the Sea of Azov from the Black Sea, two Russian cargo ships carrying petroleum products, in distress, suffered damage due to bad weather and requested assistance in emergency, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations announced this Sunday, December 15, cited by the state press agency TASS. The situation could be much more dramatic in reality and there is a risk that both ships could sink.
13 sailors are on board the tanker Volgoneft 212which, damaged, was standing still, and 14 on board the Volgoneft 239gone adrift, according to the Russian authorities. A support ship, a Mi-8 helicopter and 50 rescue workers were dispatched to the scene of the incident. “Information regarding a possible oil spill is currently being verified”specified the ministry. According to the Russian daily Kommersantthe first of the two tankers transported 4,300 tonnes of fuel.
Several videos published this Sunday morning on social networks, not authenticated at this stage, show at least one ship half submerged in water. Blackened water – like traces of hydrocarbons – is also clearly visible in the images.
Two criminal investigations have been opened by the Russian authorities for “violation of the safety and operational rules of maritime transport”, announces the Tass agency.
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