A storm warning was announced in the Kerch Strait, and the operation to eliminate the aftermath of the November 11 natural disaster is underway only on the coast. The waves are 2-2.5 meters high now, a source in the Transport Ministry told Itar-Tass on Wednesday.
Specialists explained that in such conditions it is impossible to continue the pumping of water from the forepart of the tanker in order to lift it and the pumping of about 1,000 tonnes of fuel oil from the holds. Due to bad weather the preparatory works for lifting the Volgoneft-139 forepart will be held only on the coast.
At present, tugboat Svetlomor specialized in the fuel oil removal and the vessel Kil with booms for the lifting operation are on duty at the forepart of the tanker. Meanwhile, passing vessels and reconnaissance parties on the coast are searching for Nakhichevan crewmembers.
The Volgoneft-139 tanker broke into two during the storm in the Kerch Strait on November 11. Another 11 vessels were also damaged. The tanker aft has already been tugged to the Kavkaz port, the forepart is still anchored. Meanwhile, the source recalled that another three dry cargo vessels loaded with sulfur are lying in the Kerch Strait. Their lifting operation will probably be carried out already in April 2008. Divers examined all these vessels. They found out that the water has already washed out all sulfur from the Nakhichevan holds.
The seaweed and waste mixed with fuel oil are being collected on the Chushka Spit and are brought to special reservoirs.