The
Turkish-owned Koala tanker, laden with
130,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, was about to set off from Ust-Luga when three
explosions ripped through the engine room, forcing the crew to evacuate.
As the engine room flooded, the vessel’s stern sank
to rest on the seabed.
Russian officials maintained there has been no oil spill to date, but Finland put its oil spill response capabilities on alert as a precautionary measure.