A major oil spill off Oman has reached the country’s mainland, contaminating beaches and raising concerns about the potential impact on sensitive marine ecosystems.
Oman’s Environment Authority said oil leaking from the Caroline Bezengi tanker has reached beaches around Ras Madrakah, affecting as much as 40 kilometres of coastline.
Authorities warned that oil is also expected to reach the southern coast of Masirah Island, about 15 kilometres offshore, potentially affecting another 10 to 20 kilometres of shoreline.
Specialized response teams are monitoring the spill and carrying out containment and cleanup operations, with authorities saying priority is being given to environmentally sensitive areas.
Earlier this week, Omani officials estimated that the spill covered nearly 400 square kilometres, with much of the slick concentrated around the Hallaniyat archipelago. The area includes a marine reserve established to protect sea turtles and other marine species.
Environmental organizations, including Greenpeace, have suggested the spill could be substantially larger than official estimates and have warned of serious consequences if it is not rapidly contained.
The Caroline Bezengi has been disabled near Oman’s Al Hallaniyat Islands since June 8, when its crew reported a suspected explosion. The cause of the incident has not been publicly confirmed.
The tanker, built in 2001 and most recently sailing under the flag of Cameroon, has been identified by Western governments as part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet used to transport Russian oil amid sanctions imposed following Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The vessel is currently under sanctions imposed by several jurisdictions, including the European Union, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Canada and Ukraine.
According to the open-source database OpenSanctions, China-based Rentoor Shipmanagement and Villar Shipmanagement are registered as the vessel’s owner and operator, respectively.
Environmental Impact Raises Alarm
Environmental groups have warned that the expanding slick could threaten coastlines, marine habitats and wildlife across the region.
Greenpeace last week warned that the incident could develop into an unprecedented oil disaster without urgent containment efforts.
Oil-spill specialist Christopher D’Elia, a professor emeritus at Louisiana State University, said the tanker was estimated to be carrying around 800,000 barrels of crude oil, meaning the incident has the potential to become a significant spill.
Questions have also emerged over who could ultimately be held financially responsible for the cleanup, particularly given the vessel’s reported links to the shadow-fleet system.
Omani authorities say monitoring and response operations are continuing as officials work to limit the spread of the pollution and reduce damage to vulnerable coastal and marine areas.
