Oman transfers oil from leaking tanker Caroline Bezengi

Oman is racing to contain a growing oil spill off its southern coast after a tanker stranded near a protected marine reserve for over a month began leaking crude. The spill now covers nearly 400 square kilometres, according to the Oman Environment Authority, which warned the slick had spread within 7km of the shore. Satellite data analysed by Greenpeace suggests the spill could be even larger, stretching across roughly 600 square kilometres.

The stricken tanker, the *Caroline Bezengi*, has been adrift since early June after an explosion rocked the vessel near Oman’s al-Qibliyyah Island. The ship, which was carrying about one million barrels of Russian crude bound for Asia, had passed through the Suez Canal in late May after loading at Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. Investigators suspect the blast caused water to flood several compartments, leaving it stranded in a region now designated a marine reserve by Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said last year. The archipelago is a critical habitat for rare sea turtles, coral reefs, and other fragile ecosystems.

Omani authorities say they are conducting aerial surveillance and have deployed divers to assess the damage. A Transport Ministry official told the state-backed Oman News Agency that teams are in the early stages of planning to transfer the vessel’s remaining oil cargo to reduce risks of further leakage. The spill threatens coral reefs, turtle nesting sites, and coastal areas identified as ecologically vital. While the exact cause of the leak remains unknown, environmental groups warn the situation is on the brink of an “environmental disaster.”

The *Caroline Bezengi* is part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” a network of ageing tankers used to bypass Western sanctions on its oil exports. These vessels often sail under flags of convenience and have drawn criticism for weak maintenance and safety standards. The ship has already been sanctioned by the European Union, the UK, Canada, Switzerland, and Ukraine. The spill adds to growing environmental risks in the Gulf, where tankers have been repeatedly targeted since the Israel-Hamas war began in February. With the slick still spreading and the tanker’s condition uncertain, authorities face pressure to act fast before the damage becomes irreversible.