The tanker “Caroline Bezengi” (IMO 9224439), flagged in Cameroon, may be causing an oil spill in a protected marine area off the coast of Oman, according to satellite images released by Reuters.
The vessel, which belongs to the so-called Russian ghost fleet, is sanctioned by the European Union and the United Kingdom for its alleged involvement in the transport of crude oil and fuels from the Eurasian country. It reportedly loaded oil at the Russian port of Novorossiysk and set sail for an unknown destination. According to maritime tracking data from Vessel Finder, its last AIS signal was on June 11, when it was sailing off the coast of Yemen.
Possible Oil Spill Off Oman’s Coast
Images captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellites between July 2 and July 13 show a large brown patch in waters near the island of al-Qibliyyah, possibly consistent with a crude oil spill at sea. The exact cause of the possible leak is unknown, although the main hypothesis suggests that the “Caroline Bezengi” may have suffered a technical failure or an attack, which could have caused a subsequent spillage.
Authorities and Operators Remain Silent
So far, neither the authorities in Oman nor the company operating the vessel, Rentoor Shipmanagement, have made statements regarding the incident. The lack of official confirmation has raised concerns about the potential environmental impact and the responsibility for the possible spill.
International Sanctions and Russian Ghost Fleet
The “Caroline Bezengi” is part of a larger network of vessels sanctioned by international authorities for their alleged involvement in circumventing sanctions against Russia. The vessel’s flagging in Cameroon and its connection to the Russian ghost fleet have raised suspicions about its true purpose and ownership.
Original Article: Russian tanker “Caroline Bezengi” suspected of causing a spill off the coast of Oman — Puentedemando