Oman oil spill from shadow-fleet tanker reaches protected island shore

A sanctioned tanker carrying nearly a million barrels of crude oil has leaked and spread to the shoreline of a marine protected area off Oman's southwest coast, satellite images show. The vessel, the Caroline Bezengi, has been grounded for several weeks near Qibliyah Island and appears to have become further submerged in recent days.

Oman's Environment Authority confirmed on Wednesday that oil has reached the shores of Ras Madrakah, more than 200 kilometres north of Qibliyah Island. Authorities estimate the slick could extend another 100 kilometres northward to Masirah Island.

Hanen Keskes, a political campaign lead at Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa, called the shift from offshore spill to confirmed shoreline contamination "extremely concerning." She noted that oil settling into beaches and coastal sediment makes cleanup significantly more complex than containment at sea.

The affected area is ecologically significant, containing coral reefs, seagrass meadows, nesting beaches for endangered turtles, and breeding sites for migratory seabirds. It is also home to the rare Arabian Sea humpback whale.

Keskes said the tanker's status complicates the response. The vessel is unflagged, uninsured, and believed to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet," sanctioned by the British government and the European Union. It left the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk in May, with owners believed to be based in Shanghai.

"All this means that the response will be more challenging," Keskes said, adding that Oman may have no recourse to hold any party accountable for the cost of containment and cleanup.

Omani authorities say they are monitoring the spill using satellite imagery, environmental modelling, and diving inspections.