Oil Spill in the Black Sea near Russia

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On December 15, 2024, a major environmental disaster occurred in the Kerch Strait. Two Russian tankers, Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, collided due to a storm, resulting in a massive oil spill. Approximately 3,700 tons of M100 fuel oil were released into the Black Sea, contaminating the coastal areas of Krasnodar Krai and Crimea.

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Extent of Contamination:

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• Coastal Areas: The oil spill affected a stretch of coastline about 50 kilometers long, from the village of Veselovka in the Temryuk District to the town of Blagoveshchensk near Anapa.

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• Environmental Impact: As of now, 210 birds and 10 dolphins have been reported dead due to the spill.

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Response Efforts:

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• Cleanup Operations: By December 24, a total of 77,928 tons of contaminated sand and soil had been collected.

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• State of Emergency: A federal-level state of emergency was declared in Krasnodar Krai and Crimea.

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Causes and Consequences:

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• The disaster occurred because of damage to the hulls of the tankers due to the storm. Unlike other oil products, M100 fuel oil does not float on the surface but sinks or remains suspended in the water column, making it harder to remove.

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• The spill has raised concerns about the effectiveness of oil spill response methods, especially in adverse weather conditions, and the importance of safety measures for vessels in such environments.

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This incident highlights the need for stricter safety regulations for maritime transportation and more efficient oil spill cleanup techniques to protect marine life and coastal ecosystems.