An oil tanker split in two after the ship ran aground in a storm, as a desperate rescue mission is launched to save the crew.
Two Russian cargo ships carrying oil products were severely damaged due to bad weather in the Kerch Strait, between mainland Russia and annexed Crimea. They have now asked for help, the country’s Emergency Services Ministry said on Sunday.
There were 13 people on board the tanker Volgoneft 212, which was destroyed and grounded, and 14 people on a second ship, the Volgoneft 239, which was afloat after sustaining damage, the ministry added.
The 212 is believed to have broken in half amid large waves close to the coast of Kerch, and according to Russian outlet Mash, the ship began to sink rapidly.
Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that the tanker Volgoneft 212 was carrying about 4,300 tons of fuel oil.
The Ministry of Emergency Services said more than 50 people and equipment, including a Mi-8 helicopter and a rescue tug, had been deployed for the rescue mission.
Rescuers aboard the tugboat reportedly tried to lift the stranded crew members from the sea. According to reports, they had been waiting for rescue for four hours.
“There is a crew of thirteen people on board,” the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry for the disputed Republic of Crimea said.
Two Russian cargo ships carrying oil products were severely damaged due to bad weather in the Kerch Strait, between mainland Russia and annexed Crimea
Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that the Volgoneft 212 tanker was carrying about 4,300 tons of fuel oil
A rescue operation was launched to rescue crew members who had fallen overboard
The Ministry of Emergency Services said more than 50 people and equipment, including a Mi-8 helicopter and a rescue tug, had been deployed for the rescue mission.
“There are also oil products on the ship, information about the spill is being clarified.”
Later, the Mash media outlet reported that ten sailors had been rescued, but thirteen were “still at sea.”
There are fears for the lives of four more people who were ‘in the hold’ when one of the ships broke down, the report said, raising concerns they could have drowned.
‘Everyone who cannot be found has worked as a mechanic.’
The report said: ‘Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239 are new river-sea type ships.
‘In the 1990s they were cut in half and ‘sewn together’ to meet the standards of the class of such ships.
‘They have not been properly maintained all this time.
‘Today the waves hit them in the side during a storm and ‘torn’ the weld seam.
“Each had 4,000 tons of fuel oil in the tanks; some of it leaked from the tanks and formed black spots in the sea.”
Readovka media outlet reported: “According to preliminary data, strong waves formed a hole in the hull, after which the ship broke in half and began to sink.”
One unconfirmed report stated: ‘Volgoneft-212 was built 55 years ago.
‘It was originally a regular tanker, but in the 1990s it was shortened to ‘river-sea’ standards [meaning it could operate in both rivers and the sea].
“Everything was done in a hurry… they cut out the middle [of the vessel] and then welded the stern and bow, creating a huge seam in the middle.
‘Today this seam came loose after a strong wave impact.’
It comes after Ukrainian forces downed a £55 million Russian warship using kamikaze attack drones in a formidable attack off the Crimean coastline in February.
Footage shared by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense showed its unmanned maritime vessels attacking the Black Sea missile ship Ivanovets.
The 184-foot warship was struck by multiple drones near annexed Crimea and was reportedly sunk after sustaining massive damage to its hull.
At least 33 people were feared killed in the sinking.