Oman coastline hit by massive oil spill from stricken sanctioned tanker
A huge oil slick from a sanctioned tanker has reached Oman's coast, threatening a marine reserve and wildlife.
A significant oil spill has begun to wash ashore along Oman's coastline, according to the country's environment agency. The leak originates from the Caroline Bezengi, a sanctioned tanker carrying an estimated 800,000 barrels of Russian oil that ran aground on June 30. The agency has warned that the oil could impact up to 40 kilometers of coast near Ras Madraka and Masirah Island.
The vessel is situated near an Omani marine nature reserve that is home to species such as Arabian Sea humpback whales and Socotra cormorants. Satellite imagery reviewed by specialists indicates the slick now covers more than 2,000 square kilometers, a dramatic expansion from the roughly 400 square kilometers reported by Omani officials earlier in the week.
The tanker's journey has been fraught with complications. It sailed from the Russian port of Novorossiysk in April, passing through the Suez Canal before navigating waters near Yemen, where Houthi militants are active. Maritime sources reported the vessel encountered difficulties in June following what appeared to be a blast, though no party has claimed responsibility for an attack.
Response efforts are being hampered by the complex legal framework surrounding the incident. The IOPC Funds, an intergovernmental body that typically handles tanker spill compensation, has stated it will not cover cleanup costs because the event is being treated as an "act of war" rather than an accident. The 25-year-old tanker also lacks insurance from any recognized Western provider.
Oil spill specialist John Amos, who reviewed the satellite data, warned that the vessel could "continue to break up under the steady onslaught of wind and waves" and potentially lose its entire cargo. Such a spill could rival the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster in scale, he said.
The United Nations' International Maritime Organization has acknowledged that seasonal monsoon conditions have limited access to the tanker and delayed salvage operations, though contingency planning is reportedly in place. Greenpeace has noted the slick's growth has accelerated rapidly, expanding from around 45 square kilometers in late July to 600 square kilometers by early August.
Specialists say the priority should be stabilizing the tanker and transferring remaining crude to another vessel, but warn that delays are making the operation increasingly difficult and dangerous.