Oil slick reported off Oman amid tanker incident
An oil slick is covering an area of around 150 square miles off the coast of Oman, the country’s government said on Monday, after a vessel under sanctions and carrying Russian crude sustained damage, reports BritPanorama.
The Caroline Bezengi’s crew first reported difficulties on June 8 off the southern Yemeni port of Mukalla, with initial assessments indicating that a blast occurred onboard, according to two maritime security sources.
In its first public disclosure of details regarding the environmental impact, Oman stated it was seeking to address the oil leak in its waters near the Hallaniyat Islands off the southern governorate of Dhofar.
A statement from Oman’s Environment Authority, distributed by the Omani state news agency, confirmed that the oil slick covered approximately 150 square miles based on the latest analysis that included satellite imagery.
The analysis indicated that the slick extends northeast of the islands towards the mainland and comes within an estimated seven kilometers of the shore at its nearest point.
According to a Reuters analysis of satellite imagery and maritime specialists, the spill from the 900-foot Caroline Bezengi tanker was still spreading at the end of last month, raising concerns about potential environmental damage.
The cause of the damage to the vessel remains unclear, and Oman has not provided any explanations regarding the incident.
Shipping data revealed that the ship was loaded with Russian crude before its voyage, and it last transmitted a signal on public AIS tracking on June 11, off the coast of Yemen.
Russia has been utilizing aging, often poorly maintained tankers—referred to as its shadow fleet—to circumvent Western sanctions on its oil exports.
The European Union and Britain have imposed sanctions on the Caroline Bezengi, citing its involvement in carrying fuels from Russia.
As authorities grapple with the unfolding situation, the environmental ramifications of the spill remain a critical concern.
