Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker Leaks Oil Off Oman Coast, NGOs Raise Alarm
An Omani nature reserve faces an environmental catastrophe from an oil leak as a Russian shadow fleet tanker reportedly 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. Russia has built up a ghost fleet of old ships with opaque ownership to get around Western sanctions since its 2022 Ukraine invasion, and experts have said the vessels’ poor condition increases the risk of oil spills.
Satellite Imagery Verifies Oil Slick
Satellite imagery verified by AFP showed what appeared to be an oil slick spreading from a 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 square kilometers on July 24 to an estimated 600 square kilometers on August 4, according to satellite imagery reviewed by Greenpeace.
Environmental Consequences
“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 oil contamination threatens coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and coastal habitats that support endangered sea turtles, migratory seabirds, and marine mammals.
Salvage Efforts Underway
The International Maritime Organization told AFP it was “currently offering assistance to Oman“, without providing further details on the incident. Oman did not respond to an AFP request for comment. Timely intervention and salvaging the oil tanker are of essence to prevent worse, according to Wim Zwijnenburg from Dutch peace organisation PAX.
Regional Implications
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. Large stretches of the island’s shoreline appear affected, with additional oil slicks extending far out to sea, further polluting and damaging this protected marine ecosystem.
Background Information
The Caroline Bezengi, which is believed to be the ship leaking off Oman, loaded one million barrels of crude oil at the Russian Black Sea terminal of Sheskharis on May 11. It still had the oil when its last signal was recorded a month later.
Original Article: Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker leaks oil off Oman coast, NGOs raise alarm – The Economic Times — Economictimes