Two Russian tankers sink in Black Sea spilling 4,300 tonnes of oil
GuardianDec 12, 2024
Russian Oil Tankers Split, Sink in Black Sea
Above: The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday in the Kerch Strait waterway separating Crimea and mainland Russia. Image copyright: Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
The Facts
Two Russian oil tankers, Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, sank in the Kerch Strait during a severe storm on Sunday, spilling approximately 4.3K tonnes of fuel oil.
The Volgoneft-212 — carrying 15 crew members — split in half after being struck by powerful waves, while the Volgoneft-239 — carrying 14 crew members — sustained severe damage and sank shortly after.
The Spin
Anti-Russia narrative
This disaster highlights the ongoing, reckless operation of outdated vessels, as these tankers were too old to safely navigate extreme conditions or withstand the rigors of modern maritime operations. Russia has violated maritime operating rules, endangering both crew members and marine ecosystems.
Pro-Russia narrative
The incident resulted from severe weather conditions that overwhelmed sturdy vessels during standard maritime operations. Though the tankers were old, they were refitted to transport oil and to comply with Western sanctions. Right now, the most important focus is not on picking arguments and attributing blame, but on rescue and clean-up efforts.
Metaculus Prediction
Public figures in this story
Establishment split
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