Sanctioned Russian Tanker Causes Major Oil Spill off Coast of Oman

A Russian shadow fleet tanker has run aground off the coast of Oman, creating an oil slick that covers approximately 390 to 400 square kilometers. The vessel, named the Caroline Bezengi, was carrying nearly one million barrels of Russian crude oil bound for Asia when it ran aground near the Hallaniyat Islands. While the Omani government reports that local tourist facilities and water desalination plants are not in danger, the spill is located near a nature reserve home to Arabian Sea humpback whales and Socotra cormorants. Greenpeace has provided a higher estimate of the damage, placing the slick at approximately 600 square kilometers based on satellite imagery.

The Caroline Bezengi departed from the Russian port of Novorossiysk in April and passed through the Suez Canal in late May. The ship is part of a shadow fleet of older tankers that lack Western insurance and use various national flags to hide their ownership. This specific vessel was listed under the Cameroon flag but was among 39 ships delisted from that registry in June. It is currently subject to sanctions imposed by the European Union, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Switzerland.

Reports indicate the ship first signaled problems on June 8 near Yemen. Maritime security sources suggest an explosion occurred on board, although no party has claimed responsibility for an attack. John Amos, CEO of SkyTruth, expressed concern that satellite data shows no sign of vessel activity to stabilize the ship or remove the remaining cargo. Experts note that preventing the oil from reaching the shore through the use of booms and dispersants is critical to minimizing long term environmental damage.