Oil Spill in Black Sea: Environmental Crisis Following Tanker Incidents

Oil spillage has caused environmental damage along the Russian Black Sea coast after two tankers were damaged in a storm over the weekend. A third tanker issued a distress signal but remained intact, with no spillage and a safe crew. The first tanker, Volgoneft 212, split in half in the Kerch Strait, while the second, Volgoneft 239, ran aground near the port of Taman. Both vessels, over 50 years old, were carrying a total of 9,200 metric tons of oil products, raising concerns about a potential environmental disaster in the region.

Authorities discovered fuel oil along the coast between the towns of Temryuk and Anapa, prompting a local state of emergency in affected settlements. A video showed oil-like substances along the coast and birds covered in oil struggling to fly. The nearby Kerch Strait is a crucial area for migrating dolphins and other sea mammals, increasing the impact of the spill on marine life.

The Russian Natural Resources and Ecology Ministry confirmed fuel oil leakage into the sea, but the full extent of the spillage was still unknown. Minister Alexander Kozlov mentioned the possibility of fuel oil sinking to the seabed due to cold weather. The incident highlights concerns in the shipping industry about the risks posed by “shadow” tankers and the importance of following cleaner shipping standards in key routes like the Kerch Strait for Russian exports.

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