Salvage team boards stricken tanker Caroline Bezengi as oil slick hits Oman coast
A major international salvage operation has been launched to prevent an environmental disaster off Oman by stabilising a stricken oil tanker and limiting an oil spill that has begun reaching the country's coastline. As deteriorating monsoon conditions threaten to complicate rescue efforts, British maritime company Ambrey said on Thursday that it had a team “working around the clock” to salvage…
An international salvage team has been mobilised to prevent an environmental catastrophe off Oman's coast after a stricken oil tanker, the Caroline Bezengi, ran aground near the Hallaniyat Islands. The tanker, which was carrying 800,000 barrels of Russian crude subject to international sanctions, capsized following an explosion on June 30, according to maritime sources.
Salvage vessels and specialist personnel, including Royal Air Force of Oman personnel, are currently working around the clock to stabilize the ship and its cargo. The operation, which involves over 100 tonnes of specialized equipment, is being carried out despite deteriorating monsoon conditions that are complicating rescue efforts.
The Caroline Bezengi is now sinking deeper, which has increased fears that a larger quantity of crude oil could spill if its hull breaks apart. The spill has already reached more than 2,000 square kilometers of coastal waters, threatening approximately 40 kilometers of the Oman coastline and potentially the Masirah Island. The incident occurred during Oman's annual Khareef monsoon season, when heavy rains and fog create rough seas, further complicating the salvage efforts.
Ed Wollaston, Ambrey's director of global response, emphasized the challenging situation, stating that the team has deployed leading experts and mobilized appropriate supporting assets to mitigate the environmental impact. The Royal Air Force of Oman is providing crucial support to the operation.
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