Putin's big problem. Russian tankers in trouble: Kerch Strait spill averted
Another Russian tanker broke down in the Kerch Strait, reported the Reuters agency, citing Russian media. This time, however, there was no oil spill. The Volgoneft 212, Volgoneft 239, and Volgoneft 109 are aging ships, constructed in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
![Another Russian tanker broke down in the Kerch Strait [illustrative photo]](https://v.wpimg.pl/MzE2ZmNlYhskUCxeYRdvDmcIeAQnTmFYMBBgT2Faf0M9AW9ZYQokFiBAPx0hQioIMEI7Gj5CPRZqUyoEYRp8VSFbKR0iDTRVIF84CCpDKEx3VmsMK1hgG3RWb0B6CCkZaFBtX3pBdU9xVGlceAouHyEAeBA)
18 December 2024 07:56
The Volgoneft 109, which broke down on Tuesday, was transporting 4,060 tonnes of heating oil. The incident occurred in the Kerch Strait, where, on Sunday, two other tankers suffered breakdowns: the Volgoneft 212 split in half, and the Volgoneft 239 ran aground.
Sunday's breakdown resulted in fuel oil leaking into the sea. Russian media report that over 3,050 tonnes of the substance could have entered the Kerch Strait, posing a significant environmental threat. However, the total amount of fuel transported on both damaged tankers on Sunday was about 9,150 tonnes.
On Tuesday, the independent portal Moscow Times reported that some oil-based pollution had settled on the coast of the Krasnodar Krai, near the resort town 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 60 miles) of coastline - conveyed the governor of Krasnodar Krai, Veniamin Kondratyev, on Telegram.
Reuters agency and independent media reported that the Volgoneft 212, Volgoneft 239, and Volgoneft 109 are ageing ships constructed in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
