On 29 August, a large-scale oil spill occurred in the port of Novorossiysk. According to preliminary estimates, 10 tonnes of oil products spilled over an area of 350 square kilometres. Within a few days, photos and videos of Russian beaches contaminated with oil products, including Anapa, began to appear online. Birds contaminated with oil products were also spotted.
We have analysed the situation based on Sentinel satellite images and can confirm that on 29 August, the spill covered an area of 50 square kilometres, and on 30 August, up to 80 square kilometres. Fortunately, the data on a 350-square-kilometre oil slick cannot be confirmed at this time.
The oil spill was linked to the oil tanker T.Semahat (tonnage 157,000 tonnes, built in 2017, sailing under the Turkish flag).
Since 29 August, the oil slick has been moving rapidly westward and is now believed to have reached the shores of the temporarily occupied Crimea.
What are the consequences for the environment?
The pollution forms a continuous film, which poses a great risk to living organisms, as the film instantly blocks contact with oxygen. Birds will be the first to suffer, as they will come into contact with petroleum products when landing on the water and diving (for example, in search of food). In addition to birds, marine mammals and other marine animals will also fall victim to the oil spill.
What to do?
Since the spill occurred in a Russian port, the aggressor country is responsible for cleaning up the accident. Measures must be taken immediately to collect the spill, otherwise such large-scale pollution will once again spread throughout the entire sea area.
