A criminal case has been initiated in Russia concerning the sinking of the Volgoneft tankers.
Investigators are confiscating documents from the companies that certified the Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239 tankers, which foundered in the Kerch Strait yesterday. Interrogation of the vessel owners is planned, stated Olga Postnova, Senior Aide to the Chief of the Main Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee for Crimea and Sevastopol.
In particular, investigators are questioning dockworkers and injured sailors. Interrogation of vessel owners is scheduled in Perm and St. Petersburg.
It was determined that the oil tankers underwent testing for fitness for the transportation of hazardous materials in July 2024.
Criminal cases have been initiated for breaches of traffic regulations and transport operation norms. After news emerged of a crew member’s death, one of the cases was reclassified as a more severe infraction. The probe is being supervised by the Investigative Committee's headquarters.
An Investigative Committee spokesperson added that there were 12 crew members aboard the Volgoneft 212 tanker (the previous day’s report indicated 13), one of whom, a 23-year-old watchman from Astrakhan, perished. The remaining individuals were hospitalized in various states. The tanker had been sailing from the port of Saratov towards the port of Kavkaz since November 10.
The second tanker, Volgoneft 239, left the port of Azov on November 16, also heading towards the port of Kavkaz. It had 14 crew members on board, all of whom were rescued.
“Due to the storm’s impact, the vessel suffered damage, with its front section breached 8 kilometers from the coastline. The ship’s personnel were located in the rear section, which drifted 10 meters from the shore, near the port of Taman,” Postnova elaborated.
Both vessels were transporting over 4,000 tons of fuel oil; the incident led to an oil discharge.
Under the direction of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a task force has been established to manage the repercussions of the tanker accident, led by Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev. The primary reasons are thought to involve crew misjudgment in challenging weather conditions and extreme storm pressures on the ships’ structures. Prior to the incident, the Ministry of Emergency Situations cautioned about winds rising to 17–22 m/s.
