Salvage efforts for a grounded tanker leaking Russian crude oil off Oman’s coast are being hindered by challenging weather conditions and operational difficulties, according to the sultanate’s state news agency. The tanker, Caroline Bezengi, reportedly ran aground on June 30 following an unexplained attack and is leaking oil in a protected marine area, with estimates of the spill’s extent ranging from 400 to 2,000 square kilometers.
Oman is collaborating with risk-management company Ambrey to mitigate environmental damage, particularly as the spill has reached the coastline and affected a nearby nature reserve. Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Rawahi, director general of maritime affairs at Oman’s Ministry of Transport, noted that monsoon weather and the shallow, rocky site of the grounding pose significant risks to salvage operations.
The Caroline Bezengi, which was carrying approximately 800,000 barrels of Russian oil and is subject to international sanctions, is part of Russia’s shadow fleet of older tankers. These vessels often operate under various flags to obscure ownership and lack Western insurance coverage. The ship had loaded oil at Novorossiysk in April before passing through the Suez Canal in late May.
