Storm splits Russian cargo ship carrying oil products in Kerch Strait

A Russian cargo ship carrying oil products broke apart near the Kerch Strait due to bad weather, Russian media ASTRA reported on Sunday.

Preliminary reports indicated that the Volgoneft-212 vessel, owned by Kama Shipping, sank after strong winds caused a hole in its hull.

In addition, another tanker, Volgoneft-239, was sinking in the same area. The crews of both vessels have been stranded on their decks for approximately 4 hours, awaiting rescue operations.

The Russian Coast Guard is conducting a rescue operation to evacuate the 13 crew members of the Volgoneft-212 vessel using an Mi-8 helicopter and a rescue tugboat.

Russia’s Kommersant newspaper reported that the Volgoneft-212 tanker was carrying about 4,300 tonnes of fuel oil.