Tanker failures in Black Sea spark environmental emergency 

A significant environmental disaster is unfolding in the Kerch Strait following the failure of three Russian-flagged tankers, resulting in an oil spill.

Two of the three vessels, reportedly Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239, suffered damage during a storm on Sunday (15 December 2024). The Volgoneft 212 split in half and was reported to be carrying approximately 4,2000 tonnes of ‘low-grade’ heavy fuel oil. The Volognoeft 239 ran aground and was also reported to be carrying a similar amount of oil.

On Tuesday (17 December 2024), a third vessel in the fleet further complicated the emergency. After the adverse weather, Volgoneft 109 reported a distress signal, with another spill later confirmed.

Russian state news agency TASS confirmed initial details of the incident. Emergency services and rescue tugboats were deployed to the area, and Russian investigators have opened criminal cases to examine potential violations related to the incidents. 

Various social media videos have documented the extensive oil spillage around the Black Sea coastline, including beaches and birds covered in oil.

Environment organisations and international media are expressing concerns about the potential long-term ecological impact. A Greenpeace representative told Sky News they are monitoring the situation and describe the environmental consequences as “not good,” . . . though they cannot physically inspect the damage. The representative further elaborated on the situation, warning that the environmental impact is expected to worsen, and as they told Sky: “I believe a new environmental catastrophe is imminent.”

Ukrainian officials have already called for international sanctions. The vessels are estimated to be more than 50 years old, and many have been raising concerns over the ‘outdated’ and ‘unregulated’ nature of the Russian fleet. Greenpeace Ukraine additionally published a statement underscoring how these ‘shadow fleet tankers’ must be ‘urgently added to the EU sanctions list’.

Additional oil is predicted to continue washing up along the coastline in the coming days, causing extensive damage to ecosystems and coastal environments. 

Image courtesy of: The Russian Southern Transport Prosecutor’s Office via AP