Tanker explosion at Russian port: No casualties or leaks
An explosion occurred on a tanker in the Russian port of Ust-Luga on the Baltic Sea, as reported by the governor of the Leningrad region. The local maritime agency assures that there are no casualties or fuel leaks. It was stated that the explosion was caused by a crew member's error.
The explosion on the Russian tanker in the Baltic port of Ust-Luga happened in the engine room during engine startup. The crew was evacuated, and the cargo tanks were not damaged. "The explosion occurred during engine startup," reported the Russian Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transport, Rosmorrechflot.
Explosion on a Russian tanker in a Baltic port
The governor of the Leningrad region, Aleksandr Drozdenko, announced on Telegram that there is no environmental threat. The explosion was allegedly the result of a "human-caused incident."
As highlighted by Radio Liberty's portal, the tanker, sailing under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda, carried 143,000 US tons of fuel on board. The crew consisted of 24 members, mostly Russians, along with Georgians and Indonesians. The explosion damaged the ship's engine room.
Recall that in December 2024, two Russian tankers ran aground in the Kerch Strait, causing a fuel oil spill. Since sanctions were imposed on Russia, the country has been using the so-called shadow fleet to continue exporting oil and gas amidst the severe sanctions imposed on it after starting the war in Ukraine.
