Sanctioned Tanker in Oman Threatens Environmental Disaster

A tanker loaded with crude oil has been leaking in protected waters off Oman’s coast, causing environmental concerns, according to recent satellite images reviewed. The stranded vessel threatens to break apart during the monsoon season.

Satellite images reveal an oil sheen spanning approximately 20 square kilometers around Dhofar’s Qibliyah Island, part of the protected Hallaniyat Islands. Dark oil patches have reached the shoreline. Experts, such as Wim Zwijnenburg of the Dutch peace organization PAX, have noted the increasing oil leakage, which has worsened recently due to rough weather potentially triggering a larger spill.

He emphasized that the monsoon season’s strong winds and rough seas pose the biggest risk, potentially breaking the vessel apart. The 899-foot Caroline Bezengi, under a Cameroon flag, has been stranded since June after an onboard explosion. Reports suggest trouble began near the Yemeni port of Mukalla on June 8, with an unconfirmed blast being initially suspected.

The vessel reportedly loaded Russian crude oil at the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk before its recent voyage. It faces sanctions from the United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, and Switzerland for allegedly transporting Russian oil using a shadow fleet designed to evade Western sanctions imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Zwijnenburg estimates the tanker carries over 800,000 barrels of crude, with recent imagery suggesting a hull breach. Other maritime experts reviewing the data express concerns over the vessel’s listing, indicating a risk of it breaking apart.

The spill endangers a protected marine reserve in the Arabian Sea, home to endangered petrels and rare wildlife. Greenpeace Germany highlights the coastline’s pollution and damage to the ecosystem, warning of a potential larger oil disaster.

Nina Noelle from Greenpeace Germany expressed fears of the region’s coastlines and ecosystems facing devastating consequences. Meanwhile, the U.N.’s International Maritime Organization is monitoring the situation, assessing the vessel’s safety and environmental impact. Authorities have ordered the vessel’s owners to remove the ship and cargo by July 23, though it’s unclear if this deadline was met or if the owners responded.