Oil Spill Threatens Oman’s Nature Reserve After Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker Explosions
Oman is facing an impending environmental catastrophe as an alleged Russian shadow fleet tanker leaks oil across hundreds of square kilometers near a nature reserve, NGOs warn.
The ship was rocked by explosions, a maritime security firm told AFP, but the cause of the blasts is unclear. The vessel, believed to be the Caroline Bezengi, loaded one million barrels of crude oil at the Russian Black Sea terminal of Sheskharis on May 11 and still had the oil when its last signal was recorded a month later.
Satellite imagery verified by AFP shows what appears to be an oil slick spreading from the ship that has been stranded for over a month near al-Qibliyyah island, off Oman‘s southern coast. The oil sheen had expanded from up to 20 sq km (7.7 sq miles) on July 24 to an estimated 600 sq km (231 sq miles) on Aug. 4, according to satellite imagery reviewed by Greenpeace and Dutch peace organisation PAX.
“With oil apparently continuing to leak and the vessel stranded in a difficult location, the risk of an even larger environmental disaster remains serious,” Nina Noelle of Greenpeace told AFP. She warned of a “severe and long-lasting” consequence.
The International Maritime Organization has offered assistance to Oman, but details on the incident have not been provided. Oman did not respond to an AFP request for comment.
The oil contamination in the Hallaniyat Islands threatens coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and coastal habitats that support endangered sea turtles, migratory seabirds, and marine mammals. Even relatively small oil spills can persist in marine sediments for years, compromising the ecological resilience of this protected marine ecosystem.
Environmental Concerns Mount as Oil Spill Threatens Biodiversity
Large stretches of the island’s shoreline appear affected, with “additional oil slicks extend far out to sea, further polluting and damaging this protected marine ecosystem,” Noelle said. Wim Zwijnenburg, from PAX, added that a complete break of the ship can cause a regional environmental catastrophe, affecting both the lives of Omani fishing communities and the wider marine and island biodiversity.
The al-Hallaniyat islands are home to diverse marine life including rare sea turtles, migratory seabirds, and marine mammals. Turtles nest and lay their eggs on the beach while many seabirds breed on the islands, with surrounding waters home to the rare Arabian Sea humpback whale.
Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Linked to Oil Spill
Russia has built up a ghost fleet of old ships with opaque ownership to circumvent Western sanctions since its 2022 Ukraine invasion began. Experts have said the vessels’ poor condition increases the risk of oil spills.
The Caroline Bezengi was sanctioned by the UK in February for its suspected involvement in shipping oil from Russia. Oil exports bring in crucial revenue for Russia’s stuttering economy.
Maritime security firm Vanguard Tech told AFP that three explosions rocked the ship on June 6, flooding several areas including the steering gear compartment and pump room. It is not clear what caused the explosions, or whether the ship was attacked.
Original Article: Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker Spills Oil Near Omani Nature Reserve After Explosions — Kyivpost