"Everyone said this was an imminent risk, that it was going to happen. So the only surprise is that it took so long to happen," explains Jorge Leon, highlighting the anticipated nature of the crisis.
"Most of the ships operated by Russia were already ready to be scrapped; they were vessels no one else wanted, and Russia bought them. As a result, safety measures on these ships are minimal," notes Leon, critiquing the fleet's condition.
"The Volgoneft 212, the first of the two damaged vessels, was 55 years old. It was launched on December 15, 1969, during Leonid Brezhnev's era in the USSR," emphasizing the antiquity of the tankers involved.
"The welds connecting the bow and stern failed to withstand the strong winds and rough waves," shedding light on the structural weaknesses that led to the incidents.
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