Tanker accident off Rügen: Storm complicates the scenario on the broken oil tanker “Eventin” | EUROtoday

A storm makes the scenario across the unable to maneuver oil tanker “Eventin” within the Ostsee north of Rügen extra sophisticated. In the night there have been already gusts of power seven and waves two and a half meters excessive, because the accident command introduced. The storm is predicted to additional intensify with gusts of power 9.

Additional ships and a workforce of specialists had been subsequently ordered to the broken tanker. They are supposed to make sure that the 274 meter lengthy ship with a crew of 24 on board stays reliably in its place. The two tugs “VB Luca” and “VB Bremen” have already arrived, as a spokesman for the accident command mentioned late within the night. The workforce of specialists was additionally anticipated. It is to be dropped onto the “Eventin” by a helicopter with a winch.

A medical workforce from the Rostock hearth division secured the maneuver. “The emergency towing specialists are supposed to ensure that the load of the 274 meter long tanker is distributed safely and evenly among the tugs used,” defined a spokesman for the accident command. The specialists are additionally purported to carry alternative radios for the crew on board the “Eventin”.

Blackout on “Eventin” since Friday evening

According to the accident command, there was no energy on board since a blackout on Friday evening and the engine isn’t working. The tanker drifted within the Baltic Sea, unable to maneuver, till German emergency ships managed to attach the “Eventin” to an emergency tug and thus maintain it in its place on Friday afternoon.

According to the data, the stricken vessel additionally features a federal police ship and a ship from the Waterways and Shipping Authority, which can be accountable for site visitors security. Because of the ability outage on board, there are not any navigation lights on board the “Eventin,” because it was mentioned. Whether, when and the way the tanker could be towed right into a port is being examined and is at present not clear.

Almost 100,000 tons of oil from Russia

The “Eventin” was touring from Ust-Luga in Russia to Port Said in Egypt with nearly 100,000 tons of oil on board. The tanker, in-built 2006, is assessed by the environmental group Greenpeace as Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.

“Every day, tankers ready for scrap drive from the Russian oil ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga towards the southwest,” mentioned Greenpeace marine biologist Thilo Maack. The “Eventin” is simply the most recent instance of how the ships of the Russian shadow fleet threaten the Baltic Sea coast on daily basis. The EU’s newest sanctions bundle is a vital step, however it’s removed from sufficient to guard the Baltic Sea.

Serious accusations from Baerbock to Putin

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock accused Russia of accepting severe environmental injury with its shadow fleet and on the identical time endangering tourism. “With the nefarious use of a fleet of rusty tankers, Putin not only circumvents the sanctions, but also accepts that tourism on the Baltic Sea will come to a standstill – be it in the Baltics, in Poland or here,” mentioned the Green Party. politician, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Russia is endangering our European security not only with its war of aggression against Ukraine, which violates international law, but also with cut cables, moved border buoys, disinformation campaigns, GPS jammers and also with dilapidated oil tankers.” It is exactly this situation that she and her colleagues from the Baltic Sea area have repeatedly warned about.

Reaction from Lithuania

After the incident, there have been additionally reactions from overseas. Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys spoke out in favor of extra decisive motion and additional measures in opposition to Russia’s shadow fleet. “The Baltic Sea is the most important gateway for Russia’s oil exports and we have to stop that,” he mentioned throughout a go to to the Estonian capital Tallinn. At the identical time, the shadow fleet is an “instrument in hybrid activities” and poses a menace to the atmosphere.

Over 2,000 ships journey the Baltic Sea on daily basis

The Baltic Sea is likely one of the busiest seas on this planet. More than 2,000 ships journey the inland sea on daily basis, because the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW) introduced.

It was solely in mid-October that there was an incident with a tanker off the coast of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The small oil tanker “Annika” burned on the Baltic Sea nearby of the coast. The ship was on its approach from Rostock to Travemünde when hearth broke out on board round 4.5 kilometers off the Baltic Sea resort of Heiligendamm on October eleventh. After preliminary fire-fighting work at sea, the 73 meter lengthy and 12 meter broad ship was maneuvered by tugboats into the Rostock abroad port. No oil leaked through the incident.

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