Investigators conduct searches in tanker wreck inspection firms

Oil tankers "Volgoneft-212" and "Volgoneft-239", wrecked in the Black Sea on December 15, were tested for suitability for transportation of dangerous goods in July this year. This was reported on December 16 in the press service of the Investigative Committee (IC) of Russia for the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol.

The agency noted that the group of investigators continues to work on the territory of the Krasnodar region and in Kerch. So, in firms where tankers underwent technical inspections, documents are seized, searches and interrogations of port workers are conducted.

"Reports of informing the operational services of the crews about extreme weather conditions are being studied, interrogations of shipowners in Perm and St. Petersburg are planned", - added in the Telegram-channel of the IC.

Breaking storm: two tankers in distress off the coast of Kerch

The powerful elements snapped both vessels in half

On December 15, Russian tankers Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239 crashed due to bad weather in the Kerch Strait. There were strong squally winds and sea waves of up to seven points in that area.

As a result of the wreck there was a spill of oil products. The tankers ran aground.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that more than 50 people and 11 units of equipment were involved in the liquidation of the accident. From the tanker "Volgoneft-212" evacuated 13 people. One of them died. The evacuation of 14 crew members of the tanker "Volgoneft-239" was suspended due to bad weather, they were rescued in the morning of December 16.

The Prosecutor's Office has started checking the incidents. Two criminal cases have been opened on the fact of violation of the rules of safety of movement and operation of maritime transport.