Oil tanker splits in half during sinking; helicopter deployed to rescue crew

At least 13 crewmen have been thrown overboard after a Russian oil tanker reportedly split in two as large waves battered the vessel off the coast of occupied Ukraine

A Russian oil tanker is "rapidly sinking" with 13 crewmen finding themselves overboard, according to reports.

The tanker Volgoneft-212 is understood to have broke in half amid large waves close to the shores of Kerch, off the coast of occupied Crimea. According to Russian outlet Mash, the ship rapidly started to sink.

It added the vessel was transporting 4,000 tonnes of fuel oil. A rescue operation is currently underway in the area.

A tugboat has since arrived at the site of the sinking and rescuers were reportedly attempting to lift crewmen aboard. A helicopter from the Russian Emergencies Ministry flew to help the crew in the Kerch Straight this morning.

A strong wave is believed to have broken a welded "seam" that kept the ship intact (Image: Telegram)

The crews had been waiting for rescue for up to four hours, said reports. The Volgoneft-212 had 13 crew on board, and the Volgoneft 239 had 14 sailors.

Other reports said a total of 29 were on the two vessels. Due to difficult weather conditions, a strong wind and large sea waves, the vessel ended up damaged - although it has not been specified how exactly and where the ship was damaged.

"There is a crew of 13 people onboard," the Russian Emergencies Ministry for the disputed Republic of Crimea. "There are also oil products on the vessel, information about the spill is being clarified."

Readovka media outlet reported: “According to preliminary data, a hole was formed in the hull due to strong waves, after which the ship broke in half and began to sink.”

One unconfirmed report stated: “Volgoneft-212 was built 55 years ago. It was originally a regular tanker, and in the 1990s it was shortened to ‘river-sea’ standards [meaning it could operate in both rivers and the sea].

“Everything was done in a hurry….they cut out the centre [of the vessel] and then welded the stern and bow, forming a huge seam in the middle. Today, this seam came apart after a powerful wave hit.”

The Russian Emergencies Ministry confirmed that the Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239 were sinking. More than 50 specialists and 11 pieces of equipment are already involved in eliminating the consequences. Further information is being clarified,” said the ministry.

Later it said the 212 had run aground, and while the 239 was drifting.

A rescue operation was launched to save crewmembers who found themselves overboard ( Image: Telegram)

In February footage showed a dramatic attack on a £55 million Black Sea missile ship that was hit by numerous drones off annexed Crimea. At least 33 people were feared dead in the sinking.

Multiple drones are believed to have staged the attack from the sea near Odessa. As many as nine drones are believed to have been dispatched.

The operation was launched by Group 13 special forces of the Ukrainian GUR military intelligence agency. Another Russian was destroyed by drones in a separate attack, Ukrainian forces claimed at the time.

Footage showed the 369ft-long Caesar Kunikov was struck off the coast of the Black Sea of annexed Crimea. All crew members on board - said to be 87 at the time - were believed to have been killed in the incident.

The GUR Ukrainian military intelligence said at the time: ""The successful mission was carried out by the special forces of Group 13 of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate. The enemy ship was attacked by striking marine drones Magura V5 off the coast of temporarily occupied Crimea near the town of Alupka. As a result, the Caesar Kunikov received critical breaches on the left side and began to sink.”

Later Mash media outlet said ten sailors had been rescued but 13 were “still at sea”. There are fears for the lives of four more who were “in the hold” when one of the vessels broke up, said the report which expressed concerns they could have drowned.

“All those who cannot be found worked as mechanics.” The report said: "Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239 are new river-sea type ships.

“In the 1990s, they were cut in half and ‘sewn together’ to meet the standards of the class of such ships. All this time, they were not properly serviced.

“Today, during a storm, the waves hit them in the side and ‘tore’ the welded seam. Each had 4,000 tons of fuel oil in the tanks - some of it leaked out of the tanks, forming black spots in the sea.”

Thomas Brown