Pollution - Shipwreck Log

Volgoneft 109

December 17, 2024 Paul Hancock

On November 17, the 132 meter long, 4190 dwt tanker Volgoneft 109 (IMO: 8230651) suffered damage in the Sea of Azov off the Taman Pennisula, Russia. The Volgoneft 109 was loaded with 4000 metric tons of mazut on board when it suffered hull failure with a crack just forward of the bridge. The tanker has suffered water ingress and pollution has been seen being released into the sea. No reports of injuries to the 14 crew. It can’t be determined if the tanker has controlled the flooding or if the tanker is at risk of breaking up. Video of the incident shows the tanker taking water over its deck with the mazut cargo leaking out into the sea.

Russian Authorities Version

The Russian federal shipping agency Rosmorrechflot state the Volgoneft 109 had been at anchor in the Kerch Strait off Port Kavkaz. The tanker suffered damage to the cargo tank, but there was no water ingress and no pollution released into the sea. The vessel had sent out a distress call due to a fracture in the hull, but the incident was “not critical”. Videos released of the Vologneft 109 suggests the Russian authorities do not want any further focus on these incidents.

Updated Theories

This is the third tanker to suffer hull damage in two days. The incident with the Volgoneft 109, built in 1973, suggests the incidents are not due to wave damage, but the tankers lack of structural integrity. Photos and videos of all three Volgoneft tankers show rust and lack of recent maintenance. This suggests the tankers could have been already close to structural failure and the stormy conditions just hastened the eventual fate of the vessels.

Ukraine maritime authorities have stated these tankers were never designed for winter storms. Another authority has stated the vessels had departed from Volgograd bound to deliver the fuel for the Russian Navy to explain why the tankers would be exposed to the stormy conditions rather than remain in port or within the safety of the Don River. News reports suggest the urgency to resupply the Russian Navy is most likely the driving factor for all three incidents.

Double Tanker Disaster

December 16, 2024 Paul Hancock

On the morning December 15, the 132 meter long tanker Volgoneft 212 (MMSI: 273333930) and 132 tanker tanker Volgoneft 239 (MMSI: 273354600) would meet disaster in Kerch Strait off the Taman peninsula, Russia. Both tankers were loaded with 4300 tons of mazut, a low grade fuel oil, when stormy conditions caused damage to both vessels.

The Volgoneft 212 would break in two amidships with the bow drifting away and eventually sinking. The stern of the tanker would remain afloat a bit longer allowing the crew to abandon ship. Reports state that 12 of the 13 crew on the Volgoneft 212 were rescued by two tugboats and a helicopter. Two of the crew rescued had suffered severe hypothermia and were taken to hospital in serious condition. One crew man had lost his life during the incident. With the hull failure of the Volgoneft 212, the majority of the cargo of mazut fuel was released into the sea. Due to the stormy conditions and location of the incident, there were no efforts to contain the pollution.

Nearby the Volgoneft 239 sustained damage by the same stormy conditions. The tanker had suffered damage and had gone adrift in the storm. The tanker continued to drift until it ran aground just 80 meters off Volna, Russia. All 14 crew on the Volgoneft 239 were later rescued by authorities. Reports state the tanker sustained hull damage and there had been some pollution released.

Current theories on cause of the incident

Some reports blame the cause of the incidents due to the tankers age. The Volgoneft 212 was built in 1969 while the Volgoneft 239 was built in 1973. Both tankers were built for the inland river/canal waterways during the Soviet era. Neither vessel was designed for heavy seas, but to navigate shallow waters. The Volgoneft 212 had been refitted with it length being altered and welded back together. Several have suggested the Volgoneft 212 broke apart at the welded seam from the refit.

Other reports state there was a large wave the caused the damage to both vessels. That the wave smashed into both tankers causing one to break apart and the other to lose steering/power. This theory has some merit as a third vessel had sunk of Crimea. A floating crane was being towed off Crimea when strong winds caused the crane to roll over and sink.

An unsubstantiated theory states that an Ukrainian sea drones were used to attack the tankers. The lack of explosion or fire along with no sightings of the drones have debunked this theory.

The last theory is that the tanker Voloneft 212 had been caught between waves and broke apart similar to the fate of the cargo vessel Arvin. The Arvin had been at anchor in the Black Sea in January 2021 when it broke apart in rolling seas resulting in the loss of 6 of the vessel’s 12 crew.

Due to the amount of misinformation provided by Russian authorities, the cause of the incident may never be released to the public. Several sources state these vessels were engaged as part of the Russian shadow fleet and engaged in bypassing sanctions placed by the United States and the European Union.

Regina K

December 11, 2024 Paul Hancock

On December 8, the 85 meter long self-propelled barge Regina K (MMSI: 211414050) allided on the Moselle River within the Müden lock. The Regina K, fully loaded with scrap, prematurely entered the Müden lock before the lock gates were fully open. This resulted in the lock gates being torn away and leaving them severely damaged along with the anchors and equipment used to control the gates. Hydraulic lines were cut and pollution was released into the river. Local fire brigade placed a boom to contain any additional pollution. The Regina K sustained significant bow damage, but did not suffer any water ingress. There were no reports of injuries.

Reports state the incident may have been caused by a technical fault on the vessel. Authorities have closed traffic indefinitely at the lock until repairs can be done. Early estimates state the lock may not be back into service until March 2025. Reports state that much of the lock gate parts need to be replaced and the replacement gate would require additional upgrades before it could be put into service.

Some 70 vessels were reported stuck above the lock as there is just a single lock at Müden. With the route blocked, river traffic was backing up as far as the French border. Authorities were determining what action can be done. Some discussion was to use the dam gate plates to allow vessels to proceed downstream. However, this would require the use of divers and would be a time-intensive effort. Until a solution is implemented, vessels have been asked to stay at their berths upstream of the lock.