Two Russian oil tankers wrecked in Black Sea's Kerch Strait

Authorities in Russia have reported that two oil tankers from Russia were severely damaged in the Black Sea, leading to an oil spill.

Video shared by Russia's Southern Transport Prosecutor's Office displayed the front section of a tanker completely severed, with visible trails of oil spreading in the water.

It is thought that both tankers were carried off course before they ran into the shore. Reports indicate that at least one crew member has died.

The event occurred in the Kerch Strait, which divides Russia and Crimea – the Ukrainian peninsula that Moscow unlawfully took control of in 2014.

A rescue mission that included tugboats, helicopters, and over 50 staff members successfully saved 13 crew members from a tanker, but had to be put on hold because of poor weather conditions.

The 14 crew members still on the second tanker reportedly have all the essentials for basic survival with them. However, it seems they will remain stuck until the situation gets better.

President Vladimir Putin has instructed the establishment of a task force to address the situation, which will be led by Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev. Meanwhile, officials are looking into the matter for potential criminal negligence.

Michelle Bockmann, an analyst for the shipping industry publication Lloyd's List, informed the BBC that the two ships belong to the company Volgatanker and are considered fairly small in size.

According to Russian officials cited by the Tass news agency, they were transporting 4,300 tonnes of oil each, which is considered dead weight.

According to Bockmann, tankers that are specifically designed for international trade of Russian crude oil typically have a substantial capacity of about 120,000 deadweight tons. This suggests that these vessels were probably utilized for moving oil along Russia's rivers or in nearby coastal areas.

The Kerch Strait serves as a vital passage for shipping Russian grain abroad, and it is also utilized for exporting crude oil, fuel oil, and liquefied natural gas.

In 2007, an oil tanker called Volgoneft-139 broke apart in a storm while it was anchored near the Kerch Strait, releasing over 1,000 tonnes of oil into the water.

Since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukraine's allies have imposed strict sanctions on imports of Russian oil.

In the past few years, Russia has faced allegations of employing a so-called ghost fleet of tankers. These vessels, frequently in bad shape and without adequate insurance, are purportedly used to transport oil while evading sanctions. However, Bockmann noted that the tankers linked to the incident on Sunday do not seem to belong to this fleet.

Further contributions by Joshua Cheetham.