Oil Spill Threatens Oman’s Protected Waters

A sanctioned oil tanker has been leaking crude oil into protected waters off the coast of Oman. Satellite images reveal an oil sheen of approximately 20 square kilometers surrounding Dhofar’s Qibliyah Island, part of Oman’s Hallaniyat Islands. Dark crude patches have reached the shoreline, sparking fears of a larger spill.

Environmental expert Wim Zwijnenburg from PAX noted that the oil sheen has increased, with the vessel in danger of breaking apart due to rough monsoon conditions. The Suezmax tanker Caroline Bezengi, registered under Cameroon, has been stranded since an onboard explosion in June. Initial reports suggested trouble near Mukalla, Yemen, around June 8, but the explosion’s cause remains unclear.

Satellite images show oil leaking from the tanker, which began its journey after loading Russian crude in Novorossiysk. The tanker is part of the so-called ‘shadow fleet’ meant to evade Western sanctions on Russian oil. The United Kingdom, EU, Canada, and Switzerland have imposed sanctions on it.

Zwijnenburg estimates the tanker holds over 800,000 barrels of crude, with photos indicating at least one breached section. Experts suggest the vessel is listing, increasing the risk of eventual breakage. The spill endangers a marine reserve housing endangered petrels and other rare wildlife. Greenpeace Germany reports oil pollution along the coast, threatening the ecosystem.

The U.N.’s International Maritime Organization is monitoring the situation. Oman’s Ministry of Transport issued a directive for the tanker’s owners to remove ship and cargo by July 23. It remains unclear if this order was followed.