Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker Leaks Oil Near Oman Marine Reserve

An oil spill from the Caroline Bezengi, a tanker linked to Russia's shadow fleet, is threatening a protected marine reserve off the southern coast of Oman. Satellite imagery verified by AFP shows an oil slick spreading from the vessel, which has been stranded near al-Qibliyyah island for over a month. Greenpeace reports that the affected area grew from 20 square kilometers on July 24 to approximately 600 square kilometers by August 4. This estimate was corroborated by Wim Zwijnenburg, an investigator with the Dutch organization PAX.

The vessel reportedly loaded one million barrels of crude oil at the Russian terminal of Sheskharis on May 11. According to maritime security firm Vanguard Tech, three explosions rocked the ship on June 6, flooding the pump room and steering gear compartment, which rendered the main engine and steering inoperable. The cause of the explosions remains unknown. The ship was previously sanctioned by the United Kingdom in February for its involvement in shipping Russian oil.

Environmentalists warn that the spill threatens the al-Hallaniyat islands, a marine reserve home to coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and endangered species such as the Arabian Sea humpback whale and various sea turtles. Experts from Greenpeace and PAX warned that a complete break of the ship could lead to a regional catastrophe affecting Omani fishing communities and biodiversity. The International Maritime Organization stated it is offering assistance to Oman, while the Omani government has not responded to requests for comment.

Outlets with a center lean and center-right lean provided similar factual accounts, though they differed in their contextual framing. Center-leaning coverage emphasized the broader geopolitical context of Russia using a ghost fleet of old ships to bypass Western sanctions. Center-right coverage focused more heavily on the specific ecological risks to the protected reserve and the immediate need for salvage operations.