Oman oil spill widens as sanctioned tanker sinks off protected coast
The grounded tanker Caroline Bezengi is leaking more crude as it sinks off Oman's coast. The expanding spill threatens a protected marine reserve and has intensified calls for urgent action.
Satellite images reviewed by The Associated Press show that the sanctioned tanker Caroline Bezengi, carrying nearly a million barrels of oil, appears to be sinking further into the water off the coast of Oman after being grounded there for weeks. The vessel is also leaking increasing amounts of crude oil into the surrounding sea.
The spill has spread quickly in recent days and reached the shores of Qibliyah Island off Oman’s south-west coast. By August 7, it covered nearly 800 square km, according to Wim Zwijnenburg, an environmental expert with the Dutch organisation PAX, which tracks environmental damage in conflict zones.
Greenpeace Germany also said the spill was growing sharply, pointing to a worsening condition of the vessel. “Satellite imagery analysis suggests that the oil spill covered 45 square km up until July 26. By August 2, it had expanded to around 150 square km, and imagery from August 4 indicates that it now extends across roughly 600 square km,” said Nina Noelle, an environmental disaster expert at Greenpeace Germany.
The affected area is part of the Arabian Sea reserve, a marine protected area that is home to wildlife including endangered petrels and the rare Arabian Sea humpback whale. The 247-metre Caroline Bezengi has been grounded off Qibliyah Island for two months. Media reports said the crew had reported an explosion on board on June 8.
The tanker is believed to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” and has been sanctioned by the British government and the European Union for carrying Russian oil. According to geospatial data tracking company SynMax Maritime, it left the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk in May. Greenpeace and other reports said the vessel’s owners are believed to be based in Shanghai. Satellite images dated August 5 showed an oil sheen stretching to the north-east of the tanker and around the island, while the vessel appeared more submerged than in an image taken on July 31. July and August are the peak monsoon months in the area.
It remains unclear whether any rescue or salvage effort is under way. On Thursday, the Oman government said it was responding to the incident, but it was not immediately clear whether authorities had reached the tanker or were trying to stop the leak. A statement carried by the Oman News Agency said authorities were monitoring the area through satellite imagery, field surveys and technical models, and that teams were ready “to implement necessary procedures” to deal with possible effects on marine life and navigation safety. Greenpeace Germany warned on Wednesday of an “imminent risk of an unprecedented oil disaster from a broken tanker with devastating consequences for the region’s coastlines and marine ecosystems”, and urged all concerned bodies to act immediately to assess ways to contain the spill, while calling on Oman to seek international assistance if needed.
The latest satellite assessments indicate that the grounded Caroline Bezengi is leaking more oil as it sinks further off Oman’s coast, with the spill spreading across a protected marine area and concerns growing over the environmental impact and the absence of a clear salvage response.
With PTI Inputs
Satellite images reviewed by The Associated Press show that the sanctioned tanker Caroline Bezengi, carrying nearly a million barrels of oil, appears to be sinking further into the water off the coast of Oman after being grounded there for weeks. The vessel is also leaking increasing amounts of crude oil into the surrounding sea.
The spill has spread quickly in recent days and reached the shores of Qibliyah Island off Oman’s south-west coast. By August 7, it covered nearly 800 square km, according to Wim Zwijnenburg, an environmental expert with the Dutch organisation PAX, which tracks environmental damage in conflict zones.
Greenpeace Germany also said the spill was growing sharply, pointing to a worsening condition of the vessel. “Satellite imagery analysis suggests that the oil spill covered 45 square km up until July 26. By August 2, it had expanded to around 150 square km, and imagery from August 4 indicates that it now extends across roughly 600 square km,” said Nina Noelle, an environmental disaster expert at Greenpeace Germany.
The affected area is part of the Arabian Sea reserve, a marine protected area that is home to wildlife including endangered petrels and the rare Arabian Sea humpback whale. The 247-metre Caroline Bezengi has been grounded off Qibliyah Island for two months. Media reports said the crew had reported an explosion on board on June 8.
The tanker is believed to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” and has been sanctioned by the British government and the European Union for carrying Russian oil. According to geospatial data tracking company SynMax Maritime, it left the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk in May. Greenpeace and other reports said the vessel’s owners are believed to be based in Shanghai. Satellite images dated August 5 showed an oil sheen stretching to the north-east of the tanker and around the island, while the vessel appeared more submerged than in an image taken on July 31. July and August are the peak monsoon months in the area.
It remains unclear whether any rescue or salvage effort is under way. On Thursday, the Oman government said it was responding to the incident, but it was not immediately clear whether authorities had reached the tanker or were trying to stop the leak. A statement carried by the Oman News Agency said authorities were monitoring the area through satellite imagery, field surveys and technical models, and that teams were ready “to implement necessary procedures” to deal with possible effects on marine life and navigation safety. Greenpeace Germany warned on Wednesday of an “imminent risk of an unprecedented oil disaster from a broken tanker with devastating consequences for the region’s coastlines and marine ecosystems”, and urged all concerned bodies to act immediately to assess ways to contain the spill, while calling on Oman to seek international assistance if needed.
The latest satellite assessments indicate that the grounded Caroline Bezengi is leaking more oil as it sinks further off Oman’s coast, with the spill spreading across a protected marine area and concerns growing over the environmental impact and the absence of a clear salvage response.
With PTI Inputs
Satellite images reviewed by The Associated Press show that the sanctioned tanker Caroline Bezengi, carrying nearly a million barrels of oil, appears to be sinking further into the water off the coast of Oman after being grounded there for weeks. The vessel is also leaking increasing amounts of crude oil into the surrounding sea.
The spill has spread quickly in recent days and reached the shores of Qibliyah Island off Oman’s south-west coast. By August 7, it covered nearly 800 square km, according to Wim Zwijnenburg, an environmental expert with the Dutch organisation PAX, which tracks environmental damage in conflict zones.
Greenpeace Germany also said the spill was growing sharply, pointing to a worsening condition of the vessel. “Satellite imagery analysis suggests that the oil spill covered 45 square km up until July 26. By August 2, it had expanded to around 150 square km, and imagery from August 4 indicates that it now extends across roughly 600 square km,” said Nina Noelle, an environmental disaster expert at Greenpeace Germany.
The affected area is part of the Arabian Sea reserve, a marine protected area that is home to wildlife including endangered petrels and the rare Arabian Sea humpback whale. The 247-metre Caroline Bezengi has been grounded off Qibliyah Island for two months. Media reports said the crew had reported an explosion on board on June 8.
The tanker is believed to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” and has been sanctioned by the British government and the European Union for carrying Russian oil. According to geospatial data tracking company SynMax Maritime, it left the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk in May. Greenpeace and other reports said the vessel’s owners are believed to be based in Shanghai. Satellite images dated August 5 showed an oil sheen stretching to the north-east of the tanker and around the island, while the vessel appeared more submerged than in an image taken on July 31. July and August are the peak monsoon months in the area.
It remains unclear whether any rescue or salvage effort is under way. On Thursday, the Oman government said it was responding to the incident, but it was not immediately clear whether authorities had reached the tanker or were trying to stop the leak. A statement carried by the Oman News Agency said authorities were monitoring the area through satellite imagery, field surveys and technical models, and that teams were ready “to implement necessary procedures” to deal with possible effects on marine life and navigation safety. Greenpeace Germany warned on Wednesday of an “imminent risk of an unprecedented oil disaster from a broken tanker with devastating consequences for the region’s coastlines and marine ecosystems”, and urged all concerned bodies to act immediately to assess ways to contain the spill, while calling on Oman to seek international assistance if needed.
The latest satellite assessments indicate that the grounded Caroline Bezengi is leaking more oil as it sinks further off Oman’s coast, with the spill spreading across a protected marine area and concerns growing over the environmental impact and the absence of a clear salvage response.
With PTI Inputs
