Russian tanker breaks apart in storm, spills fuel in Black Sea

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Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Kaleb Gillespie (Video Editor)

A Russian tanker carrying more than 4,300 tons of oil split apart during a severe storm in the Black Sea on Sunday, spilling an undetermined amount of its cargo near the Kerch Strait off the coast of Crimea. Officials said they are assessing the potential environmental impact.

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The tanker, identified as the Volgoneft 212, split approximately five miles from shore amid heavy waves.

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Emergency crews rescued 13 crew members; 11 were hospitalized for hypothermia, with two in serious condition. At least one crew member died, Russian officials said.

The waves cut the russian tanker "Volgoneft-212" in half near the coast of Kerch.

It was carrying four tons of fuel oil. 15 crew members ended up at sea. The ship is sinking quickly.

The water temperature in Kerch is currently 7.5°C. pic.twitter.com/uZ1kBRBPYJ
— Jürgen Nauditt 🇩🇪🇺🇦 (@jurgen_nauditt) December 15, 2024

Investigators are examining possible causes of the accident, including structural damage from the storm and potential human error.

Videos shared on social media showed the tanker breaking apart as waves battered its deck. The video also showed the oil spreading across the water.

Officials have not yet determined the extent of the oil spill.

The Volgoneft 212, built in the 1980s, was primarily designed for river navigation and calm coastal waters. Reports suggested that modifications made in the 1990s may have weakened the vessel’s structure, making it more vulnerable to harsh sea conditions.

A second tanker, the Volgoneft 239, also sustained damage during the storm. It ran aground approximately 260 feet from shore near the Russian port of Taman. The crew remained onboard due to rough seas but has access to essential supplies, authorities said.

The Kerch Strait is a vital shipping route for Russian energy exports and grain shipments from areas of Ukraine under Russian control. The region has been tense since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the government to form a task force to manage rescue operations and address the spill’s aftermath. Emergency services deployed helicopters and tugboats to assist, but severe weather has hampered response efforts.

Tags: Black Sea, Oil, Oil Supply, Russia, Russian Defense Ministry, Russian Oil

[craig nigrelli]

A RUSSIAN TANKER CARRYING MORE THAN 43-hundred TONS OF FUEL OIL BROKE APART IN THE BLACK SEA DURING A SEVERE STORM ON SUNDAY. THE SPILL REPORTEDLY OCCURRED NEAR THE KERCH STRAIT, JUST OFF THE COAST OF CRIMEA, AND COULD BECOME ONE OF THE REGION’S WORST ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS IN YEARS.

RUSSIAN OFFICIALS SAY THE TANKER SPLIT ABOUT FIVE MILES FROM SHORE. EMERGENCY CREWS RESCUED 13 CREW MEMBERS, 11 OF WHOM WERE HOSPITALIZED FOR HYPOTHERMIA, WITH TWO IN SERIOUS CONDITION. AT LEAST ONE CREW MEMBER DIED IN THE INCIDENT.

INVESTIGATORS ARE EXAMINING POTENTIAL CAUSES, INCLUDING STRUCTURAL DAMAGE FROM THE STORM AND POSSIBLE HUMAN ERROR. VIDEOS SHARED ONLINE SHOW THE TANKER BREAKING APART UNDER HEAVY WAVES, WITH A DARK SLICK SPREADING ACROSS THE WATER. OFFICIALS HAVE NOT YET DETERMINED HOW MUCH OIL HAS BEEN SPILLED.

THE TANKER, BUILT IN THE 1980S, WAS PRIMARILY DESIGNED FOR RIVER TRAVEL AND CALM COASTAL CONDITIONS. REPORTS SUGGEST MODIFICATIONS MADE IN THE 1990S MAY HAVE WEAKENED ITS STRUCTURE, MAKING IT MORE VULNERABLE TO EXTREME WEATHER.

THE KERCH STRAIT IS A CRITICAL SHIPPING ROUTE FOR RUSSIAN ENERGY EXPORTS AND GRAIN SHIPMENTS FROM RUSSIAN-CONTROLLED AREAS OF UKRAINE.

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN HAS ORDERED A TASK FORCE TO OVERSEE RESCUE OPERATIONS AND MANAGE THE SPILL. HELICOPTERS AND TUGBOATS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED, BUT ROUGH SEAS ARE COMPLICATING THE RESPONSE.

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