December 15th 2024.
In a recent incident near Crimea, an oil tanker has unfortunately split in half due to intense stormy weather. This has led to a dangerous situation for the crew members on board, prompting an urgent rescue mission to be launched. The incident occurred in the Kerch Strait, an area between mainland Russia and annexed Crimea, where the two cargo ships were left severely damaged.
According to the emergency services ministry, the vessels were carrying oil products and have requested assistance. The first tanker, named Volgoneft 212, was completely destroyed in the storm, with 13 crew members on board. The second ship, Volgoneft 239, sustained heavy damage and was still drifting in the sea. The situation has been described as a "new environmental catastrophe" by charities.
Reports from a local news source, Mash, have revealed that the Volgoneft 212 has broken in half and is quickly sinking amid large waves near the shores of Kerch. This tanker was carrying around 4,300 tonnes of oil, making the situation even more concerning. Thankfully, a rescue mission is currently underway with more than 50 people and an Mi-8 helicopter en route to the scene. A rescue tugboat is also on its way to assist in the rescue.
The stranded crew members are being lifted from the sea by rescuers on the tugboat, but the process is taking time. They have been in the water for over four hours since their ship began to sink. The Russian Emergencies Ministry for the disputed Republic of Crimea has stated that there were 13 people on board the Volgoneft 212 and that there is also oil products on the vessel, with information about any potential spills still being clarified.
Natalia Gozak, director of the Ukrainian office of Greenpeace, has expressed concern over the environmental consequences of this incident. She told Sky News that they are closely monitoring the situation. As of now, 10 of the sailors have been rescued, but there are still 13 who are "still at sea", according to Mash media. There are fears that four of the crew members were in the hold when the ships broke apart.
Further reports from Mash media have revealed that all the missing crew members were mechanics. The report also stated that the Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239 are new river-sea type ships, which were cut in half and "sewn together" in the 1990s to meet the standards of their class. However, they have not been properly serviced since then, leading to their vulnerability in the storm. The waves hit them on the side and tore the welded seam, causing them to break apart. The ships were carrying a total of 8,000 tons of fuel oil, and some of it has leaked out, forming black spots in the sea.
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