Russian Oil Tanker Splits in Two; Fatality Reported

The Russian oil tanker Volgoneft 212 split in half during a powerful storm as it navigated the Kerch Strait, resulting in the death of at least one crew member, while two others remain unaccounted for.

The incident took place in the early hours of December 15th. During the storm, the front section of the tanker sank, while the rear section stayed afloat for a brief period before it too was overcome by the harsh conditions. The vessel was carrying approximately 4,300 tons of low-grade biofuel at the time of the incident.

There were 15 crew members on board when the vessel broke apart. Of these, 12 have been rescued, though two of them are reported to be in critical condition. Tragically, one crew member was confirmed dead, and search efforts are ongoing for the two who are still missing.

When a vessel breaks apart, it often results in a rapid release of cargo into the surrounding waters. Although full details on the environmental impact have not yet been released, authorities have confirmed an oil spill occurred.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has authorized the formation of a dedicated task force to oversee the rescue of crew members and address the environmental impact. Meanwhile, Russian authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the incident, as there were no clear and immediate explanations for the catastrophic failure of the ship.

The Volgoneft 212 is an aging vessel, having been built in 1969. Similar maritime disasters have occurred in the past, often involving older ships that are less capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions.

In a related incident, another vessel from the same operator, Volgoneft 239, suffered storm damage and was left drifting before eventually running aground. The 14 crew members on board were deemed safe and remained on the ship until the storm subsided.