Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Specialists from the Marine Rescue Service of the Ministry of Transport of Russia completed the pumping out of fuel oil from the main and ballast tanks of the aft section of the Volgoneft-239 tanker, which sank near Cape Panagia on December 15, 2024, ahead of schedule. The cleaning of the tanks for dismantling and subsequent disposal has begun. This was reported by the chairman of the government commission for the elimination of the consequences of the tanker wreck, Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev.
Between January 19 and 25, 1,488 tons of fuel oil were pumped from the tanker into bitumen carriers, after which it was transferred to 20 railway tank cars.
To be able to pump out the fuel oil, specialists restored the ship’s standard equipment, including the pumping and cargo heating system. In order for the fuel oil to become fluid, its temperature had to reach 45 degrees.
A temporary road was built to allow equipment to reach the tanker, and a protective embankment was created around the hull. This embankment served as an artificial hydraulic structure, protecting the vessel from the storm and preventing fuel oil from spilling into the sea.
A special platform reinforced with concrete slabs was built on the embankment close to the tanker. It provided passage for loaded bitumen carriers transporting fuel oil from the ship.
Eight machines were involved in the round-the-clock pumping operations. During the entire period of the work, 87 bitumen trucks were removed from the tanker. The remaining fuel oil that could not be unloaded by ship equipment was pumped out using hand pumps.
To ensure the environmental safety of the area, even before the work began, the Marine Rescue Service concentrated a group of emergency rescue fleet in the amount of up to 10 vessels. The fleet’s tasks included setting up boom barriers in the work area, which ensured the localization of oil products and the prevention of further pollution of the sea.
Currently, a project for the disposal of the stern of the vessel as sunken property is being prepared. According to the order of the captain of the seaport of Taman, the development of the project should have been completed by January 30. Before the start of work on cutting the vessel, a number of special events will be held. Also, the order of the captain of the seaport of Taman states that by March 31, all work on cutting the vessel and its removal should be completely completed.
Vitaly Savelyev thanked all the participants of this complex technological operation: sailors, divers, road workers, railway workers, volunteers, the OTEKO company, and employees of regional and federal authorities.
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