Tanker accident off Rügen: Storm makes oil recovery in the Baltic Sea drama more difficult

An oil tanker suffered an accident north of Rügen on Thursday evening. The tanker named “Eventin” had around 99,000 tons of oil on board at that time. Due to a power failure, the ship is unable to maneuver and has been drifting off Rügen since 10 p.m. The “Eventin”, which sails under the Panama flag, is part of the Russian shadow fleet and was on its way from Ust-Luga (Russia) to Port Said (Egypt). NDR reported.

Stormy weather conditions are currently making it difficult to secure the tanker. The storm will bring gusts of force seven, with an expected increase to force nine, and wave heights of up to 2.5 meters. Additional ships were mobilized to provide support, including the tugs “VB Bremen” and “VB Luca”. An emergency tug, the “Bremen Fighter”, has already established a towing connection to the tanker. The accident command is in contact with the shipping company to discuss the next steps. Experts estimate that the tanker's structural integrity is sound and there is no imminent risk of oil pollution in the water.

Safeguards and expectations

A four-person team of experts is flown to the “Eventin” by helicopter to assess the situation on site and ensure that the load is evenly distributed among the tugs. A medical team from the Rostock fire department ensures the maneuver. In order to respond more quickly, the emergency tug “Baltic” was relocated near Darßer Ort. It remains unclear whether and when the tanker will be towed into a port. The decision on the safe port, possibly Rostock or Świnoujście, will be made in good time, while the tanker's crew, consisting of 24 members, remains on board and no evacuation is necessary. The accident has aroused political interest, with Environment Minister Till Backhaus, for example, expressing concern about the Russian shadow fleet, which often consists of older and dilapidated tankers.

According to that Black Forest messenger A sensor aircraft flew over the area and did not detect any oil spills. Despite the current challenges caused by the weather situation, everyone involved is working to bring the situation under control as quickly as possible and avoid endangering the environment.