The tanker is owned by European Dredging Co but was charted by Saipem SpA, which is working under contract with Sakhalin Energy in the construction of a seabed pipeline.

In a statement Sakhalin Energy said, “The Cristoforo Colombo grounded between the Kholmsk Fishing Port and Kholmsk Commercial Marine Port. Twenty-nine crew members remain on board for safety reasons [and] all crew are well and in no danger.”

While Sakhalin Energy would not elaborate further, reports in the Russian media indicate specialists from the Ecoshelf oil spillage response and prevention company are already in the spillage area and an emergencies reaction team from Kholmsk on the way.

The local authorities have been notified and specialists from the Ecoshelf oil spillage response and prevent company are already working in the spillage area. An emergencies reaction team in Kholmsk has been rallied.

Ecoshelf experts are studying the site in preparation for cleaning the area, using a helicopter for visual assessment of the scale of the disaster. Furthermore, Sakhalin Energy has put its Smit Sakhalin vessel on alert should it be needed to provide assistance.