By Faridat Salifu
In response to widespread criticism following the December wrecks of two tankers, the Russian Ministry of Transportation recently initiated a comprehensive inspection of the river-sea tanker fleet operating in the country.
This move follows an order from President Vladimir Putin and aims to address long-standing concerns over the safety and condition of these vessels.
The Ministry confirmed that the inspections, led by Rostransnadzor (the federal transportation oversight agency), will assess compliance with regulations regarding the transport of oil and petroleum products.
The inspections will involve approximately 500 companies operating both sea and inland waterway tankers. Viktor Basargin, the head of Rostransnadzor, stated that the inspections are already underway and are expected to be completed by April 2025, ahead of the new navigation season.
The vessels in question, primarily the Volgoneft river-sea tankers, have been in service since the 1960s and 1970s, originally built for operations on the Volga and Black Sea.
Despite being over 50 years old, the vessels have experienced frequent incidents over the years due to their aging construction.
Though efforts were made to overhaul the fleet in the 2010s, the ships have shown increasing signs of wear and structural issues, including cracking, due to the materials used in their original construction.
The loss of the Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239 in December 2024, which resulted in one of the most significant environmental disasters in recent memory, prompted the current inspection initiative.
Official reports confirm that up to 2,400 tonnes of fuel oil were spilled, while unverified reports suggest the amount could be as high as 4,300 tonnes.
The oil spill extended over 10 miles, reaching the Sea of Azov and Black Sea, causing contamination of marine life, including over 700 seabirds and 61 dolphins. Ukraine’s Ministry of Environmental Protection has raised concerns, accusing Russia of negligence and deeming the vessels unfit for their purpose.
As part of the inspection process, Russian authorities are also conducting an audit of the regulatory framework surrounding the transportation of oil and oil products by sea and inland waterway vessels.
Despite the ongoing concerns, Russian officials claim that the cleanup of the Volgoneft-239 spill is nearly finished.