Fatshimetrie: Reporting on the devastating consequences of the oil spill in the Kerch Strait
The disastrous impact of the oil spill from two damaged Russian tankers in the Kerch Strait has raised concerns among environmental groups. Images shared on social media showed birds at the seaside covered in fuel oil, a direct result of the spill of 3,700 tons of the heavy, low-quality oil product in the strait.
The two aging vessels were seriously damaged during stormy weather conditions in the Black Sea over the weekend. They were carrying about 9,200 tons of fuel oil, and videos taken at the scene also showed black liquid rising among the waves. The disaster occurred in the Kerch Strait, which separates Russia from Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014.
The governor of the neighboring Russian region of Krasnodar, Veniamin Kondratev, said the oil spill was “controllable.” “We can confidently say that there will be no threat to the 2025 beach season,” he added. Despite this assurance, environmental groups and Ukraine’s Environment Ministry have expressed deep concern about the impact the spill could have on the marine ecosystem. The area is a vital habitat for migratory dolphins and other marine mammals.
An emergency rescue operation was launched Sunday after one of the tankers ran aground and had its bow torn off in extreme weather conditions. Sadly, one sailor among the 13 crew members died. The second tanker was also damaged and left adrift with 14 crew members on board. It eventually ran aground 80 metres from the shore, near the port of Taman, in the Krasnodar region of Russia. Fortunately, all the sailors were rescued.
Ukraine has accused Russia of failing to respect maritime safety regulations in the region. The Kerch Strait is also a vital maritime passage linking the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea, and has been the scene of tensions between Russia and Ukraine since Moscow annexed Crimea.
This tragedy highlights the risks to our marine environment and raises critical questions about shipping safety and the protection of marine wildlife. It is imperative that strict measures are taken to prevent such disasters in the future and to protect our oceans and the species that depend on them.