EMEA News
Russian Governor Pushes for Ban on At-Sea Bunkering
A Russian governor has urged the federal government to ban at-sea bunkering for ships after several spills have raised environmental concerns, Russian media reports.
"The damage was not serious, fortunately, but I'd like to ask the government to ban at-sea bunkering because it's not safe," Vladimir Miklushevsky, who is governor of the Primorye region in Northeast Russia.
An oil spill was found earlier this month that measured 150 by 200 meters, he said, in a bay near Chinese and North Korean waters.
The spill was due to a ruptured fueling hose.
A similar incident in June also led to a criminal investigation.
Miklushevsky said that he feared such accidents would become more frequent with more careless at-sea refueling operations.
The Primorye region currently serves as the mouth of the region's busy shipping lanes.
A spokesman from Russian oil company Lukoil recently said that upcoming ECA regulations would also mean large changes for the country's bunker markets.
