Oil Spill in Black Sea: Environmental Risks of Aging Tankers
On Tuesday night, heavy fuel oil (mazut) from two tankers that sank on Sunday began washing up on the shores of the Black Sea coast. Reports indicate that more than 3,000 tons of mazut may have leaked into the sea, contaminating a stretch of coastline at least 60 kilometers long.
The accident has already had devastating consequences for local wildlife, with numerous videos showing birds trapped in the oil along the seashore near Anapa. Several towns have declared an emergency situation, and the death of birds contaminated with mazut has been recorded.
Environmental Impact of the Shadow Fleet
Natalia Gozak, office director of Greenpeace Ukraine, warned that the incidents involving the two tankers highlight a much larger issue: the Russian shadow fleet. Russia utilizes this fleet of obsolete tankers to export crude oil and support the war in Ukraine. These vessels must be urgently added to the EU sanctions list.
Greenpeace Germany published a report listing the 192 most dangerous shadow fleet tankers, which are outdated, insufficiently insured, and have previously attracted attention due to technical defects and hazardous ship-to-ship transfers of crude oil.
Historical Context: Previous Accidents and Environmental Damage
In November 2007, another Volgoneft-class tanker carrying 4,800 tons of fuel oil was wrecked in the same area during a storm. According to official data, 1,600 tons fell into the sea at that time, polluting tens of kilometers of coastline on both sides of the strait. The accident resulted in significant damage to plant and animal life, with heavy fractions of oil products settling on the bottom, destroying bottom organisms.
The lack of capacity to process and neutralize the waste collected on the Russian side of the strait led to further water and soil pollution. Significant damage was caused to plant and animal life, including the destruction of food bases for many fish species.
Volgoneft Tankers: A Class of River-Sea Vessels
Volgoneft is a class of river-sea vessels designed for the transportation of oil products (gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, diesel fuel) between river and sea ports. They most often operate between the Volga River and the Black and Azov Seas.
The recent accident serves as a stark reminder of the environmental risks associated with aging tankers carrying Russian oil. As the world grapples with the consequences of climate change, it is crucial that we prioritize environmental protection and take action to prevent such accidents from occurring in the future.
Original Article: The oil spill accident in the Black Sea demonstrates what environmental damage old tankers with Russian oil can cause around Europe — Greenpeace