Oil tanker 'splits in half' after ship runs aground in stormy weather as desperate rescue mission launched to save crew and separate vessel also sends out distress call

An oil tanker split in half after the ship ran aground in stormy weather as a desperate rescue mission is launched to save the crew.

Two Russian cargo ships carrying oil products were left severely damaged due to bad weather in the Kerch Strait between mainland Russia and annexed Crimea and have now requested assistance, the country's emergency services ministry said on Sunday.

There were 13 people on board the Volgoneft 212 tanker which was destroyed and ran aground, and 14 people on a second ship, the Volgoneft 239, which was drifting after sustaining damage, the ministry added. 

The 212 is understood to have broken in half amid large waves close to the shores of Kerch, and according to Russian outlet Mash, the ship rapidly began sinking.

Russia's Kommersant newspaper reported that the Volgoneft 212 tanker was carrying about 4,300 tonnes of fuel oil. 

The emergency services ministry said more than 50 people and equipment including an Mi-8 helicopter and a rescue tugboat had been deployed for the rescue mission.

Rescuers on board the tugboat were reportedly attempting to lift the stranded crewmen from the sea. They had been waiting for rescue for up to four hours, said reports.

'There is a crew of 13 people onboard,' the Russian Emergencies Ministry for the disputed Republic of Crimea. 

'There are also oil products on the vessel, information about the spill is being clarified.' 

Later Mash media outlet said ten sailors had been rescued but 13 were 'still at sea'.

There are fears for the lives of four more who were 'in the hold' when one of the vessels broke up, said the report which expressed concerns they could have drowned.

'All those who cannot be found worked as mechanics.'

The report said: 'Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239 are new river-sea type ships.

'In the 1990s, they were cut in half and 'sewn together' to meet the standards of the class of such ships.

'All this time, they were not properly serviced.

'Today, during a storm, the waves hit them in the side and 'tore' the welded seam.

'Each had 4,000 tons of fuel oil in the tanks - some of it leaked out of the tanks, forming black spots in the sea.'

Readovka media outlet reported: 'According to preliminary data, a hole was formed in the hull due to strong waves, after which the ship broke in half and began to sink.'   

One unconfirmed report stated: 'Volgoneft-212 was built 55 years ago. 

'It was originally a regular tanker, and in the 1990s it was shortened to 'river-sea' standards [meaning it could operate in both rivers and the sea].

'Everything was done in a hurry….they cut out the centre [of the vessel] and then welded the stern and bow, forming a huge seam in the middle. 

'Today, this seam came apart after a powerful wave hit.'

It comes after Ukraine's armed forces in February downed a £55million Russian warship using kamikaze attack drones in a formidable strike off the coastline of Crimea.

Footage shared by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence showed how its unmanned seafaring vessels bore down on the Black Sea missile ship Ivanovets.

The 184ft warship was hit by multiple drones off annexed Crimea and was reportedly sunk after suffering massive hull damage.

At least 33 people were feared dead in the sinking.