Another loaded Russian oil tanker stricken at sea
A heavily-laden Russian oil tanker ran aground in the Baltic Sea in northern Russia on Sunday, according to media reports.
In the latest incident involving a Russian vessel, the Koala was carrying 130,000 tons of fuel oil, wrote the Russian-language Baza Telegram channel, which has close ties to the Russian security services.
"According to our sources, there were several explosions in the engine room, after which the ship filled with water," posted the outlet.
The governor of the Leningrad region by the city of St Petersburg, Alexander Drozdenko, later confirmed an accident in the area. The tanker's engine room was damaged when the engines were started, the official said.
The accident occurred near the port of Ust-Luga, around 150 kilometres west of St Petersburg. All 24 crew members were reportedly able to safely disembark onto the land.
While Baza reported that the stern of the tanker ran aground on a sandbank, Drozdenko said it was able to be moored at a jetty with no loss of oil into the water.
The ship officially flies the flag of Antigua and Barbuda. It is unclear whether it also belongs to Russia's so-called shadow fleet, which the country uses to circumvent international sanctions on its export of oil.
Meanwhile, another tanker reportedly ran aground in the Russian Far East. According to the Interfax news agency, a Chinese vessel encountered difficulties in a storm near the Russian island of Sakhalin.
Authorities were preparing for a possible pump-out of part of the load on board the tanker, which was said to be carrying coal and heavy fuel oil.
In mid-December, two Russian tankers carrying thousands of tons of fuel oil sank in the Black Sea, causing major spillages into the sea and along the shoreline.
According to ecologists, the environmental damage in the Kerch Strait, which separates Russia from Crimea, will continue for many years.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
US and China ‘back to square one' after two days of trade talks
Talks between the US and China are 'back to square one' after two days of trade negotiations in London failed to secure a major deal. Howard Lutnick, Donald Trump's commerce secretary, said the two sides had agreed on a 'framework' to put their trading relations back on track and repair the truce initially agreed in Geneva last month. There was little market reaction to the announcement at Lancaster House shortly after midnight, with the dollar strengthening a little and stock markets opening marginally higher. The two sides have until Aug 10 to negotiate a more comprehensive agreement to ease trade tensions, or US tariffs on China will snap back from about 30pc to 145pc, with China's levies on America increasing from 10pc to 125pc. Josh Lipsky, of the Atlantic Council's GeoEconomics Center in Washington, said: 'They are back to square one but that's much better than square zero.' Jim Reid, a Deutsche Bank analyst, added: 'While the mood music has stayed positive, investors may be wary of the pattern that emerged during the previous US-China trade talks in 2018-19, when apparently constructive in-person meetings seemed to take a step back as the negotiating teams returned to their capitals. 'So there's perhaps a little disappointment this morning that we haven't yet got a bigger announcement, even though there's time to hear the full conclusions of the meeting.' Senior officials from Washington and Beijing had gathered in London after accusations from both sides that they had violated the terms of the deal made in Switzerland. Mr Trump and Xi Jinping held a call last week that Mr Lutnick said 'gave the fundamental foundation on which we were able to reach agreement'. Mr Lutnick said: 'We have reached a framework to implement the Geneva consensus and the call between the two presidents. 'The idea is we're going to go back and speak to President Trump and make sure he approves it. 'They're going to go back and speak to President Xi and make sure he approves it, and if that is approved, we will then implement the framework.' In a separate briefing, Li Chenggang, China's vice commerce minister, said a trade framework had been reached in principle that would be taken back to US and Chinese leaders. Mr Lutnick said China's restrictions on exports of rare earth minerals and magnets to the US would be resolved as a 'fundamental' part of the framework agreement. He also said the agreement would remove some of the recent US export restrictions, but did not provide details. Kathleen Brooks, the research director at XTB, a trading platform, said: 'Overall, the US-China trade agreement is taking its time, and it could test the market's patience.' Meanwhile, the European Union reportedly believes it could extend its trade negotiations with the US beyond the initial deadline next month. The EU thinks there could be scope for further talks if it agrees a deal in principle by July 9, which is considered its best-case scenario, according to Bloomberg. The Trump administration is scheduled to enforce 50pc tariffs on EU goods beyond that date unless a deal is reached. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Business Upturn
7 minutes ago
- Business Upturn
Donald Trump confirms US-China deal done, says rare earth deal and 55% tariffs finalised
Donald Trump touts 55% tariffs and rare earth supply in pending China deal By News Desk Published on June 11, 2025, 17:56 IST Last updated June 11, 2025, 17:57 IST Former U.S. President Donald J. Trump on Tuesday announced via social media that a new deal with China has been reached, pending final approval from both himself and Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to Trump, the agreement includes upfront Chinese supply of 'full magnets' and 'any necessary rare earths' to the U.S. In return, the U.S. will uphold previously agreed terms, which Trump said include allowing Chinese students to continue studying at American colleges and universities — a relationship he described as 'always been good with me!' Trump emphasized that under the new deal, the U.S. will receive a combined total of 55% in tariffs, while China will get 10%. 'Relationship is excellent!' Trump declared in the post, adding thanks for attention to the matter. The post, shared on June 11, 2025, at 8:04 AM, comes amid ongoing geopolitical and trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. No official confirmation has yet been released by Chinese authorities or the U.S. State Department. News desk at
The Hill
9 minutes ago
- The Hill
Watch live: Hegseth, Joint Chiefs of Staff chair testify before Senate on Defense budget
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Dan Caine will testify Tuesday morning before the Senate Appropriations Committee on the Defense Department's fiscal 2026 budget request. The hearing comes as the administration has faced criticism over the deployment of troops to Los Angeles amid protests over local immigration raids. Hegseth testified before the House on Tuesday. The budget request includes a 13 percent spending increase focused on investments to 'strengthen the safety, security, and sovereignty of the homeland; deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific; and revitalize the U.S. defense industrial base.' The event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. EDT. Watch the live video above.
