Billions in fines: Rostransnadzor found those responsible for the collapse of tankers in the Black Sea

Rostransnadzor, together with experts from the Ministry of Transport and Rosmorrechflot, came to the conclusion that the captains and owners of vessels are to blame for the collapse of tankers near the Kerch Strait and the spill of thousands of tons of fuel oil into the Black Sea. The latter were fined, the total amount of which is 84.9 billion rubles.

"The (Rostransnadzor) commissions have established that the main causes of accidents are non—compliance by ship captains and shipowners with restrictions on the season of navigation of vessels in the sea areas of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait," the Ministry of Transport reports.

As a result of the investigation, it was established that for tankers Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239, the sailing season in the Sea of Azov was limited until November 30.

"The tanker Volgoneft 212 could be in the Kerch Strait until November 30, and Volgoneft-239 only until November 20. However, the tanker captains and shipowners ignored these restrictions," the ministry continued.

Rostransnadzor has prepared a number of proposals on organizational and legal measures that will avoid such accidents, including the introduction of preventive monitoring by vessels of the restrictions established for them by season and navigation areas and the timing of inspections, the transport department added.

Meanwhile, Rosprirodnadzor filed a claim for compensation for damage caused to the environment as a result of the tanker crash. It was estimated at 84.9 billion rubles.

"The amount of the calculated damage in relation to the owner of the tanker "Volgoneft-212" — LLC "Kama Shipping“ — amounted to 49 billion 460 million 085 thousand 849 rubles. In relation to CJSC "Volgatransneft, which is the owner of the Volgoneft-239 tanker, the amount of damage caused to the Black Sea amounted to 35 billion 483 million 862 thousand 830 rubles,"the service said.

They explained that the companies have one month for voluntary compensation for damage: "After this period, the statements of claim will be sent to court."

As reported by EADaily, on December 15, tankers Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239 crashed near the Kerch Strait, breaking in half. According to the Maritime Rescue Service, out of more than 5 thousand tons of fuel oil, 2.4 thousand tons fell into the sea. Some of the fractions have sunk to the bottom, some into the water column, and some are thrown ashore. The coast of Temryuk district and Anapa was particularly affected, where almost 200 thousand tons of smeared sand were taken out of a 63-kilometer section. Record emissions of fuel oil stains and in Crimea, but in a much smaller volume.

In the stern of the Volgoneft 239, 1.4 thousand tons of fuel oil remained near the shore, and they were previously pumped out, and the vessel was disposed of. There are still three parts of two tankers in the Black Sea, which are located a few kilometers from the coast.