Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Koala

In a remarkable effort, divers from the Baltic branch of the Marine Rescue Service are actively working to repair the 'Koala', a vessel currently docked at Ust-Luga. The team has successfully sealed two of the three breaches in the ship's stern, with hopes to complete the final seal by the evening of February 17. Once this critical task is accomplished, divers will shift their focus to pumping out water from the cargo pump shaft located on the starboard side, allowing specialists access to the inner workings of the ship. Notably, the engine room of the 'Koala', where prior explosions were reported, remains uninspected at this time. Previously, emergency crews had drained three aft fresh water tanks to prevent further complications. Meanwhile, fuel oil removal efforts are ongoing, with heating provided via steam from shore facilities. Encouragingly, no signs of fuel oil contamination have been detected in the surrounding waters. Authorities are exploring various theories regarding the cause of the hull damage, with one possibility being sabotage involving limpet mines. For more detailed updates, refer to the full report available online, complete with imagery: https://en.topwar.ru/259584-dve-iz-treh-vodolazy-prodolzhajut-zadelyvat-proboiny-v-bortu-zatonuvshego-v-portu-ust-lugi-tankera-koala.html

The Marine Rescue Service continues its rigorous inspection of the 'Koala', as divers have identified a third breach on the vessel's starboard side. Specialists have swiftly developed innovative sealing technologies to address the damage on the tanker’s port side, and they have supplied detailed schematics outlining the dimensions of the ruptures. Preparatory work is actively underway to begin the extraction of fuel oil from the compromised tanker. Personnel at the Ust-Luga terminal are installing steam pipes to facilitate heating the cargo while essential equipment adjustments are in progress. Meanwhile, the Marine Rescue Service is exploring secure methods for delivering steam from the shore to ensure the operation’s safety. The incident area has also been reinforced with the emergency rescue vessel 'Spasatel Karev' from the Baltic branch of the Marine Rescue Service, which stands ready to respond to any potential oil spill emergencies. Under maritime regulations, the tanker’s owner, Dahila International Co., is required to take action to safely remove the damaged vessel from port waters within a three-month timeframe. Notably, the tanker is linked to Latvian citizen Alexey Khalyavin, with operational management conducted by the Cyprus-based Lagosmarine. The nominal ownership resides with a Greek citizen, while Khalyavin is identified as the real beneficiary. Reports indicate that companies associated with Khalyavin rank among the largest purchasers of Russian oil, often circumventing price caps. Additionally, Israel has accused Lagosmarine of being involved in the transport of Iranian oil on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the pro-Iranian Shiite group Hezbollah, both classified as terrorist organizations by the United States. Earlier this year, Lagosmarine was added to the U.S. sanctions list targeting the Russian shadow fleet. For more detailed reports and images, follow the links to [Krymr.com](https://ru.krymr.com/a/avariya-tankera-koala-na-baltike-razdolbaystvo-ili-terakt/33312666.html) and [Fontanka.ru](https://www.fontanka.ru/2025/02/13/75104501/).

The tanker 'Koala' is under scrutiny for potential damage inflicted by limpet mines, as reported by Ambrey Intelligence. This incident aligns with recent attacks on other vessels sharing a similar operational profile, raising concerns about a broader campaign of maritime sabotage. Speculations suggest that the 'Koala' may be associated with Russia’s clandestine maritime operations aimed at circumventing ongoing oil trade sanctions. Initial investigations revealed that three explosions occurred in the vessel's aft section, resulting in a significant breach with one hole measuring 1x0.8 meters and two larger openings of 4x2 meters in the hull, which strongly implies the involvement of limpet mines. If this theory is substantiated, it would indicate a calculated operation targeting Putin's shadow fleet. Fortunately, no oil leaks have been reported, and all cargo tanks remain intact. As a proactive measure, the vessel has been boomed off. Salvage operations will prioritize the removal of approximately 130,000 tonnes of mazut, a dense oil that must be heated for pumping. Due to seawater flooding the engine room where the boiler is located, Russia's Marine Rescue Service (Morspas) is now exploring alternative methods to heat the cargo using steam. Additionally, special pumping equipment has been dispatched from the port of Murmansk to assist in extracting the viscous oil.