Oil spill predictions in the Kerch Strait using SAR imagery, and MEDSLIK, OpenDrift, and MEDSLIK II forecasts
Year: 2026

The Black Sea and the Sea of Azov are high-risk regions for major oil spill incidents due to heavy maritime tanker traffic and potential pipeline leaks. As a result, the Black Sea is currently considered the most oil-polluted marginal sea. In this work, we present a series of forecasting simulations to predict the dispersion of oil following an accidental 4,000-ton mazut release from the tanker Volgoneft 212 in the Kerch Strait from December 15 to December 25, 2024. The Kerch Strait is located i