Grounded oil tanker off Oman sinking deeper as spill spreads, satellite data shows
Satellite imagery shows the grounded tanker Caroline Bezengi is increasingly submerged and leaking oil across a widening area off Oman's coast.
A sanctioned oil tanker that has been grounded off the coast of Oman for two months is now visibly sinking deeper into the water, while a growing oil slick spreads across the surrounding Arabian Sea, according to satellite imagery reviewed by Varta Wire.
The vessel, the Caroline Bezengi, has leaked crude oil that by August 7 covered nearly 800 square kilometres (309 square miles), according to Wim Zwijnenburg, an environmental expert at PAX, a Dutch organisation that monitors conflicts' environmental impact. Greenpeace Germany has also reported that the spill is expanding rapidly, a sign the ship's hull is deteriorating.
Nina Noelle, an environmental disaster expert at Greenpeace Germany, said satellite analysis shows the slick grew from 45 square kilometres (17 square miles) by July 26 to roughly 150 square kilometres (58 square miles) by August 2, and then to about 600 square kilometres (232 square miles) by August 4. The affected waters fall within the Arabian Sea reserve, a marine protected area that is home to endangered petrels and the rare Arabian Sea humpback whale.
The 247-metre (899-foot) tanker has been aground near Qibliyah Island in southwest Oman since its crew reported an explosion on board on June 8. The vessel is believed to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet" and has been sanctioned by the British government and the European Union for carrying Russian oil. It departed the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk in May, according to geospatial data tracking company SynMax Maritime. Its owners are thought to be based in Shanghai, according to Greenpeace and other reports.
Satellite images from August 5 show an oil sheen trailing northeast of the tanker and surrounding the island. The vessel appears noticeably more submerged than in a photo taken on July 31. July and August are peak monsoon season in the region.
On Thursday, the Omani government said it was responding to the incident, though it was not immediately clear whether authorities had reached the tanker or begun salvage or containment efforts. A statement published by the Oman News Agency said officials were monitoring the area through satellite images, field surveys, and technical models, and that teams were ready "to implement necessary procedures" to address potential impacts on marine life and navigation safety.
Greenpeace Germany warned on Wednesday of an "imminent risk of an unprecedented oil disaster" from the broken tanker, with devastating consequences for the region's coastlines and marine ecosystems. It urged all concerned parties to act immediately to assess containment options and called on Oman to request international assistance if needed.