Transport Ministry to check Russian tankers' compliance with oil transportation rules

MOSCOW. Feb 5 (Interfax) - The Russian Transport Ministry will check almost 500 Russian shipping companies that operate tankers for compliance with the rules for transportation of oil and petroleum products in the wake of tanker wrecks in the Kerch Strait, the ministry press service said in a statement.

The ministry's Federal Service for Supervision of Transport (Rostransnadzor) is tasked with conducting the checks.

"Compliance with the mandatory rules for transportation of oil and petroleum products by legal entities and individual entrepreneurs will be evaluated. The check will involve about 500 sea and inner water transport companies operating tankers," the statement said.

The check is due to be finalized by the beginning of the 2025 navigation season.

The transport ministry will make also a full review of laws and regulations on transportation of oil and petroleum products by sea and inner water transport.

Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239 tankers carrying fuel oil wrecked in the Kerch Strait on December 15, 2024, causing a fuel leak. According to the Transport Ministry, four petroleum product tanks were damaged, and about 2,400 tonnes of fuel oil leaked into the sea.