Russian tanker spill in Kerch Strait: Nearly $1B damage
The fuel oil spill from two Russian tankers that occurred in December 2024 in the Kerch Strait has resulted in losses amounting to 84.9 billion rubles, nearly a billion dollars, according to Rosprirodnadzor, the Russian agency responsible for environmental protection, on Friday.
What do you need to know?
- When and where did the spill occur? The disaster took place on December 15, 2024, in the Kerch Strait, between Russia and the annexed Crimea.
- What are the estimated losses? Rosprirodnadzor estimated the losses at 84.9 billion rubles, equivalent to nearly a billion dollars.
- What was the cause of the spill? The Russian Ministry of Transport's commission pointed to the failure of the captains and shipowners to comply with winter navigational restrictions.
What are the effects of the fuel oil spill?
The agency recently submitted its estimates to the government commission coordinating efforts to address the effects of the disaster in the Black Sea. According to the report, "the spill caused severe contamination of water and soil, as well as significant destruction of flora and fauna. "
The companies that owned both tankers were ordered to "voluntarily compensate the damages" within a month. If they fail to do so, the matter will go to court, as reported by the Russian version of "Forbes" magazine.
What was the cause of the disaster?
The report also stated that the Russian Ministry of Transport commission believes the main cause of the disaster was "the failure of captains and shipowners to comply with restrictions during the winter navigation season."
The commission also noted that there was a lack of qualified personnel among the tanker crews.
How much fuel oil leaked into the sea?
The disaster in the Kerch Strait, located between Russian territory and Crimea annexed by Moscow in 2014, occurred on December 15, 2024. According to Russian government experts, approximately 2,400 tons (about 2,645 US tons) of petroleum products entered the sea, constituting a smaller spill than initially predicted. Rescue services reported in December that the tankers were carrying approximately 9,200 tons (about 10,141 US tons) of fuel oil, with about 40% initially believed to have spilled into the water.
Fuel oil is a heavy heating oil that becomes solid at 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Both ships, the Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239, are aging units built in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The tankers were carrying cargo intended for the Russian Navy.
