Sanctioned tanker leaks oil off Oman, satellite photos show expanding slick

A sanctioned vessel, the Caroline Bezengi, is leaking crude off Oman’s coast, with satellite images confirming a growing oil slick near a protected marine area.

The Caroline Bezengi, a tanker flagged under sanctions for transporting Russian fuel, encountered trouble on June 8 off Mukalla, Yemen, after reportedly suffering an onboard blast. Subsequent satellite imagery captured on July 28 shows a dark oil slick adjacent to the vessel and lighter patches extending north of al-Qibliyyah island, a protected marine zone along Oman’s shoreline. Remote-sensing analyst Wim Zwijnenburg of the Dutch peace group Pax interpreted the darker slicks as evidence of a breached hull, indicating ongoing crude leakage.

The region’s monsoon season, which peaks in July and August, could accelerate the spread of oil, and the ship appears to be listing, raising concerns it might eventually break up. The tanker is listed under sanctions by the European Union and the United Kingdom, and its Shanghai-based owner, Rentoor Shipmanagement, has not provided comment, while Omani authorities have not responded. The International Maritime Organization is monitoring the incident and discussing measures to mitigate environmental risks.