A third Russian-flagged tanker issued a distress signal two days after a storm damaged two tankers in the Kerch Strait causing a major oil spill.
The Volgoneft-109 tanker was anchored in the waters of Port Kavkaz in the Kerch Strait when its captain reported a damaged cargo tank, federal shipping agency Rosmorrechflot said.
The vessel was reportedly carrying fuel oil known as mazut when it issued the distress signal due to a crack on board. The press service of the Krasnodar region branch of Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry said the incident with Volgoneft-109 was “not critical.”
To remind, the Volgoneft-212 snapped in half on 15 November after being hit by a large wave during a storm while transiting the Kerch Strait. Shortly afterwards, another cargo transporter, the Volgoneft-239, got into difficulties in the same area and ran aground carrying 4 tonnes of fuel oil.
