Oman tracks 390sq km oil slick after vessel grounding as pollution moves towards coast

An oil spill is threatening Oman's coastline following an explosion on a sanctioned tanker believed to be linked to Russia. The Caroline Bezengi, a ship sailing under the flag of Cameroon, has been stranded in the Arabian Sea since a mysterious blast and fire in June. Satellite imagery reveals the vessel anchored near Oman's Hallaniyat islands, a protected marine area home to diverse wildlife like whales, dolphins, and turtles.

The ship, under British and EU sanctions for potential Russian oil transport, remains at a standstill.

Oman announced on Monday that the extent of the oil slick has expanded to approximately 400 square kilometers, with its nearest point just 7 kilometers from the southern coast. The spill is expected to continue advancing, drifting over 120 kilometers in the next two days and potentially nearing the coastal town of Ras Madrakah. The monsoon season has complicated rescue efforts as authorities attempt to assess the leak and develop methods to contain the oil.

Responding to the environmental threat, officials are considering "engineering interventions" to address damage to the ship's hull. The Oman News Agency reports that authorities are scrutinizing the potential impact on islands, habitats, coral reefs, and turtle nesting grounds. However, seawater monitoring thus far has found no cause for concern regarding desalination plants or coastal land.

Last year, a royal decree established a "marine buffer zone" around the Hallaniyat islands, requiring permits for fishing or research activities. The Caroline Bezengi's registration reveals it was loaded with Russian crude prior to its latest voyage. Communication with the ship ceased on June 11, off the Yemen coast. The crew's fate remains unknown, and the ship's registered owner and manager are Chinese entities.

Russia is known to utilize aging, often poorly maintained tankers through its "shadow fleet" to bypass Western sanctions on oil exports.