Omani authorities said they are deploying measures to contain an oil spill off the country's southern coast, covering nearly 400 square kilometers, from a tanker that has been stuck for over a month in a protected marine area.
Oman's Environment Authority said on Monday that the ongoing spill is within about 7 kilometers of the shoreline, according to the latest analysis. Meanwhile, environmental group Greenpeace last week estimated the slick had spread to roughly 600 square kilometers, based on satellite imagery analysis.
Ship tracking data shows the tanker Caroline Bezengi loaded cargo at Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk in April and transited the Suez Canal in late May. An AFP investigation found the vessel has been stranded since early June near Oman's al-Qibliyyah island following an explosion that flooded several compartments.
The slick is concentrated around the Hallaniyat Islands, where Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said established a marine reserve last year to protect sensitive ecosystems, home to diverse marine life, including rare sea turtles.
The country's environment agency said urgent action is needed to safeguard the area's biodiversity, including “coral reefs, turtle nesting sites, marine habitats, and ecologically significant coastal zones.”
According to a report by the state-backed Oman News Agency, an official from the Ministry of Transport said authorities are conducting aerial surveillance and have deployed divers. The official said they are in the early stages of planning to transfer the ship's oil cargo to “mitigate risks arising from the incident, ensure maritime safety, and protect the marine environment.”
Omani officials have not yet determined the cause of the spill.
Greenpeace and Dutch peace organization PAX told AFP that the spill risks becoming an “environmental disaster,” as the vessel carries about one million barrels of crude oil en route to Asia. The ship is believed to be part of Russia's “shadow fleet,” which Moscow uses to bypass Western sanctions on oil exports, with vessels flying various flags to conceal true ownership.
This fleet consists of aging ships criticized for poor maintenance, insurance, and safety standards. The Caroline Bezengi is subject to sanctions imposed by the European Union, Ukraine, the UK, Canada, and Switzerland.
Oil tankers have frequently been targeted in the Gulf region since the US-Israel-Iran conflict began in late February.
