Novorossiysk will finish assembling sunken tanker parts in November.
In the Black Sea coast, a unique cofferdam, with no global counterparts, is nearing completion. This innovative structure, of Russian origin and manufactured in the Tyumen region, is set to encapsulate sunken tankers in the Kerch Strait.
The complex process of recovering the sunken tankers is being emphasized by Russian Minister of Transport Andrei Nikitin as both crucial and intricate. The cofferdams, engineered as temporary watertight enclosures, will allow for the containment and removal of oil to prevent environmental contamination.
Each cofferdam, comparable in size to a five-story residential building, is constructed using approximately 80 pontoons, weighing around 1,500 tons each. They are designed with robust steel paneling, sealing systems to prevent leaks, and structural supports to withstand underwater pressures and currents. However, without specific data from the Kerch Strait operation, exact specifications cannot be confirmed.
The prefabricated metal parts of the cofferdams are being transported to the region for assembly. Once in place, the cofferdams will be topped with a special lid, which will be opened once it reaches the seabed. Divers will then enter through the lid of the cofferdams and bring their equipment to the location of the sunken tankers.
After the oil residue is pumped out, the tanker fragments will be lifted. Around 260 meters of protruding parts were previously cut off, involving divers and underwater welding technology. The smokestack, bridge, and cranes have been removed from the sunken tanker parts.
The project, which has received over 7.5 billion rubles from the federal budget, involves specialists from the Maritime Safety Service who have installed necessary equipment and submerged dead anchors to stabilize the structures. Each cofferdam uses over 30,000 fastenings and a special sealant to ensure watertightness.
The lifting of sunken tankers in the Kerch Strait is planned for 2026, but the environmental and social impact around the area remains a significant concern. For precise technical details or specifications of these particular cofferdams, it may be necessary to consult specialized engineering reports, official project documentation from the Russian authorities, or direct sources involved in the Kerch Strait tanker recovery operation.
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