An oil slick from the grounded tanker Caroline Bezengi has spread across a protected marine reserve off the coast of Oman.
The spill threatens a fragile ecosystem near the Hallaniyat Islands, highlighting the environmental risks associated with the "shadow fleet" of tankers used to bypass sanctions on Russian oil.
The tanker ran into trouble in early June 2024 [5]. While some reports indicate an explosion damaged the ship, others state only that the vessel became grounded. The spill was reported on Monday, Aug. 10, 2024.
Oman is now attempting to contain the leak from a vessel carrying close to one million barrels of Russian crude [4] bound for Asia. The size of the slick varies by report, with estimates ranging from approximately 150 square miles [2] to 232 square miles [3]. Other reports place the area at almost 400 square kilometres [1].
The vessel is part of a fleet that operates outside traditional regulatory oversight to move sanctioned Russian oil. This lack of transparency often involves older ships with questionable insurance and maintenance records.
An Omani Environment Authority spokesperson said, "The risk of an even larger environmental disaster remains serious."
Local authorities are monitoring the spread of the crude within the Hallaniyat Islands reserve. The area is known for its biodiversity, and protected marine species, making the contamination particularly damaging.
“The risk of an even larger environmental disaster remains serious.”
This incident underscores the systemic danger of the 'shadow fleet,' where ships operating with minimal oversight and opaque ownership increase the likelihood of maritime accidents. Because these vessels often lack standard insurance and adhere to lower safety standards to avoid sanctions, the financial and environmental burden of cleanup frequently falls on the coastal nations where the accidents occur rather than the ship's owners.
