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Volgoneft-212 tanker refloating option to be determined in February

On December 15, 2024, the Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239 tankers were caught in a storm in the Kerch Strait area in the Black Sea

MOSCOW, February 7. /TASS/. The Russian government continues evaluating options of lifting sunken pieces of the Volgoneft-239 tanker and refloating the Volgoneft-212 tanker and will decide in February, Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev said after the meeting of the governmental commission for coordination of emergency response efforts.

"We continue evaluating options of lifting sunken pieces of the Volgoneft-239 [tanker] and refloating the Volgoneft-212 tanker with consideration of all the environmental safety requirements. We will decide on this matter in February," Savelyev said, cited by the government.

On December 15, 2024, the Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239 tankers were caught in a storm in the Kerch Strait area in the Black Sea. The Volgoneft-212 subsequently sank while the other ship ran aground. One sailor died, and the rest were evacuated. According to emergency services, the tankers were carrying about 9,200 tons of fuel oil. An oil spill occurred in the Black Sea as a result of the accident, and clean-up operations are underway. According to the Russian Ministry of Transport, about 2,400 tons of oil has leaked into the Black Sea, much less than initially estimated.

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