The explosion in the Kerch Strait that killed at least 14 crew members during a ship to ship transfer between LPG vessels happened in an area known to be used by vessels carrying out illegal fuel transfers.
The 4,811-dwt Maestro (built 1990) and the 4,444-dwt Candy (built 1992) were anchored off Cape Takhil in the Crimea, where sources say transfers regularly take place to avoid trade sanctions imposed on Russia and the Crimea.
