Russian shadow fleet: Ran aground off Oman: Tanker to be salvaged

The security company Ambrey was reportedly hired to salvage a tanker that ran aground off the coast of Oman. The company stated that support vessels are en route and will arrive soon. Ambrey works closely with all relevant parties on the operation. The Russian-flagged tanker, known as "Caroline Bezengi" and linked to Russia's shadow fleet, had lost oil off the coast of Oman.

The spilled oil is drifting northeast towards the Omani island of al-Kiblidscha, with some already reaching the mainland, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The tanker was carrying a total of 130,000 tons of oil, which has been leaking since some time ago. The environmental group Greenpeace claims the tanker was carrying almost triple the amount of oil that spilled from the Exxon Valdez in 1989, which is considered one of the largest marine environmental disasters.

Ambrey is also reportedly involved in combating the oil spill, with a "trained team of specialists with over 100 tons of equipment" expected to help. A monsoon in the region is currently complicating access to the ship, with "extremely difficult conditions" prevailing at sea. Greenpeace warns that an environmental disaster of massive proportions could occur, with the polluted area now covering 1,400 square kilometers.

Local shipping movements show no signs of rescue vessels near the wreck. The "Caroline Bezengi" is in an ecologically sensitive area off the Omani coast, endangering coral reefs, sea turtles, migratory birds, and the rare Arabian seal. According to analysis by the data company Synmax, the tanker likely loaded its oil at the Russian port of Noworossijsk, then suffered an incident at sea in early June and stopped reporting its location. Reports suggest the tanker was loading in an Indian port.