Wrecked Volgoneft 239 tanker to be dismantled, retrieved from water by March 31 - Russian deputy PM

MOSCOW. Jan 27 (Interfax) - The dismantling and retrieval from water of the wrecked Volgoneft 239 tanker would be fully completed by late March, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev said.

Specialists earlier pumped over 1,400 tonnes of fuel oil out of the tanks of the vessel which ran aground in the Kerch Strait.

"The project of the disposal of the vessel's aft section as sunken property is currently being drafted. According to the order of the captain of the Taman sea port, the project development should be completed by January 30. A number of special events will be carried out before the start of the vessel's disposal. In addition, the Taman sea port captain's order stipulates that all work on dismantling and removing the vessel must be fully completed before March 31," the press service for the Russian government quoted Savelyev as saying on Saturday.

The Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239 tankers carrying fuel oil wrecked in the Kerch Strait on December 15, causing a fuel leak. According to the Russian Transport Ministry, four tanks with petroleum products were damaged, and about 2,400 tonnes of fuel oil spilled into the sea.

The Krasnodar Territory, Crimea and Sevastopol declared a regional emergency, and a federal emergency is also in effect.