On the possibility of continuing to operate Volgoneft-type tankers, provided that they undergo timely, high-quality repairs

This article addresses issues related to the duration of accident-free operation of Volgoneft-type tankers, project No. 1577, provided that high-quality repairs and modernization are carried out. The relevance of the study is due to the accident that occurred on December 15, 2024, in the Kerch Strait, where two vessels of this project (Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239) were wrecked, leading to an environmental disaster caused by fuel oil spill. The paper examines possible causes of the accident, including failure to comply with requirements of the Russian classification society (RS), overloading, and lack of high-quality hull repairs. The article considers the hypothesis that the reliability of vessel operation is determined not by their age, but by their technical condition, which is ensured by the shipowner through regular inspections combined with high-quality hull repair. The article presents the results of strength calculations for tanker hulls carried out in 2019–2024 and provides data on modernization, including the replacement of structures with high-strength steel (RS D32 with a yield strength of 315 MPa), raising of the second bottom, and relocation of bulkheads in the cargo area according to MAKO requirements. The design features of the vessels, their classification restrictions, and the influence of residual deformations, such as overall residual buckling, on the probability of hull fracture are analyzed. Special attention is given to hazardous sections in the cargo tank area, where fractures occurred in the wrecked vessels. To increase reliability, it is proposed to reinforce the hulls with additional strips at the most weakened connections (deck covering or bottom plating), which is an economically efficient solution. The conclusion is made that, subject to compliance with the Russian classification society’s requirements for regular technical inspections and an individual approach to repairs, Volgoneft-type tankers can continue safe and effective operation despite their average age of 48 years in 2025. The results show that modernized tankers have sufficient strength reserve for safe operation within the RCS classes (“XM-PR 2.5” or “XM-SP 3.5”).