Oil Spill and Engine Failure Plague Russian Vessels in a Week of Maritime Trouble for Russian Tankers in the Pacific

A fourth Russian tanker has broken down in the Pacific, raising concerns about maritime safety and environmental risks.

The Russian tanker Mercury, with 19 crew members aboard, lost propulsion on December 17 due to a main engine failure while navigating the Pacific Ocean. The vessel was positioned about 50 kilometers northeast of Simushir Island, a remote part of the Kuril Islands chain.

In response, the maritime rescue coordination center in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky dispatched the rescue ship Rubin to tow the disabled tanker back to port. The Russian Emergency Ministry’s Sakhalin office confirmed the incident, which is the fourth tanker-related mishap involving Russian vessels in a week.

Earlier, during the night of December 16–17, another distress signal was issued—this time by the tanker Volgoneft 109 near the Port of Kavkaz. The crew reported a breach in one of the cargo tanks, leading to fuel oil leaking into a ballast tank. Fortunately, no oil spilled into the sea, and the hull remained intact. However, the vessel, carrying 4,000 tons of fuel oil, raised alarm as it joined a growing list of recent incidents.

On December 15, the Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239 were involved in a tragic maritime disaster in the Kerch Strait. The Volgoneft 212 broke apart and sank, resulting in the death of one crew member and leaving 11 others in critical condition. Initial assessments estimate that over 4,200 cubic meters of oil products leaked into the sea from the combined cargo of 9,000 cubic meters.

The environmental toll of this disaster has been significant. Vast stretches of shoreline in Krasnodar Krai have been coated in oil, sparking concerns over the ecological impact on marine and coastal ecosystems.

This series of incidents highlights the risks and challenges faced by Russian tankers operating in harsh winter conditions. The strain on maritime infrastructure and the potential for catastrophic environmental damage has raised questions about the safety and maintenance of these vessels.

Table: Summary of Recent Russian Tanker Incidents