Two Russian oil tankers wrecked in Black Sea

Two Russian oil tankers have been severely damaged in the Black Sea, resulting in an oil spill, according to Russian authorities. The incident occurred in the Kerch Strait, a crucial waterway separating Russia from Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula that Moscow annexed in 2014. Footage released by Russia’s Southern Transport Prosecutor’s Office showed one of the tankers with its bow completely detached, and visible streaks of oil spreading across the water. The two tankers are believed to have drifted off course before running aground. At least one crew member has been reported dead.

In response to the situation, a large-scale rescue operation was launched, involving tugboats, helicopters, and more than 50 personnel. Thirteen crew members were successfully rescued from one of the tankers, though the operation was later suspended due to adverse weather conditions. The other tanker still has 14 crew members on board, who have access to all necessary life support supplies, but they are expected to remain stranded until the weather improves.

In the wake of the incident, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the creation of a working group, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev, to address the situation. Russian authorities are investigating the cause of the incident, including possible criminal negligence.

According to Michelle Bockmann, an analyst at the shipping industry publication Lloyd’s List, both of the damaged tankers belong to Volgatanker, a Russian company. These vessels are relatively small compared to typical oil tankers used for international trade. Each of the tankers was carrying approximately 4,300 deadweight tonnes of oil, a much smaller capacity compared to the larger tankers, which can carry around 120,000 deadweight tonnes. Bockmann speculated that these vessels were likely used for transporting oil through Russia’s river systems or along its coastal waters, rather than for long-range international shipments.

The Kerch Strait is an important route for Russian exports, including grain, crude oil, fuel oil, and liquefied natural gas. The strait has been central to Russian trade, particularly after the annexation of Crimea, which has strained relations between Russia and Ukraine. In 2007, another oil tanker, Volgoneft-139, split in half during a storm while anchored in the Kerch Strait, spilling over 1,000 tonnes of oil into the sea. The region has seen previous environmental disasters due to tanker accidents.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian oil exports have faced heavy sanctions from countries allied with Ukraine. In response to these sanctions, Russia has increasingly relied on a “ghost fleet” of tankers, which are often poorly maintained and lack proper insurance, to move oil and evade international restrictions. However, Bockmann noted that the tankers involved in this recent incident did not appear to be part of this controversial fleet.

The damage to the tankers in the Black Sea highlights ongoing risks to the region’s environment and the safety of maritime operations, particularly in areas with complex geopolitical tensions. The Russian government has mobilized resources to deal with the aftermath of the incident, but questions remain about the cause and the longer-term environmental impact of the oil spill.

This incident also underscores the vulnerability of the shipping industry in regions where sanctions, conflict, and adverse weather conditions intersect. The reliance on smaller, less stable vessels to transport goods like oil in contested waters makes it clear that Russia’s maritime operations are facing increasing challenges. As the investigation into the incident continues, authorities will likely focus on understanding whether the incident was caused by technical failure, human error, or other contributing factors, while the environmental consequences of the oil spill remain a significant concern for the region.

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