Sanctioned Russian-crude tanker leaks oil over 390 sq km off Oman's coast
An oil slick of about 390 square kilometres has spread off Oman after the sanctioned tanker Caroline Bezengi was damaged while carrying Russian crude.
Omani authorities announced that an oil spill of approximately 390 square kilometres is drifting off the southern coast near the Hallaniyat Islands, following damage to the Caroline Bezengi tanker. The vessel, 274 metres long and carrying Russian crude, first signaled trouble on June 8 near the Yemeni port of Mukalla, with crew reports suggesting an onboard blast. Satellite imagery confirmed the slick’s expansion northeastward, now lying as close as seven kilometres to Oman's shoreline.
The ship ceased AIS transmissions on June 11 while sailing off Yemen. The tanker is listed under European Union and British sanctions for its role in moving Russian oil, part of Russia's so-called “shadow fleet.” Oman’s Environment Authority is coordinating response efforts, but the cause of the damage remains unclear.
Why it matters
The spill threatens marine ecosystems and highlights challenges of sanction-evasion shipping routes.
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