Russian Shadow-Fleet Ship at Risk of Breaking Up Off Oman
A sanctioned Russian tanker leaking oil off Oman is at risk of breaking up as monsoon conditions hamper efforts to contain the spill.
Seven of the Caroline Bezengi’s 12 cargo tanks have been breached amid winds of 40 knots and four-metre swells near Al Qibliyyah Island, according to maritime news outlet Lloyd’s List. Arsenio Longo, founder of maritime intelligence company Huax, said recent satellite imagery showed the tanker “sitting progressively lower in the water”. He said this supported concerns about structural deterioration, although the imagery could not verify the number of leaking tanks or whether a break-up was imminent.
The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) reported that the tanker ran aground on June 30, approximately 22 nautical miles from Sharbithat. It put the cargo at 130,000 tonnes, or about 800,000 barrels of oil. A slick is drifting northeast of Al Qibliyyah Island in the Arabian Sea and some had reached the mainland, the IMO said.
Salvage Efforts Underway Amid Challenging Conditions
British maritime security company Ambrey has been appointed to coordinate the salvage and has contracted an international oil-spill response company amid “challenging” khareef monsoon conditions. Its personnel boarded the tanker with the help of the Royal Air Force of Oman to begin stabilisation work. “Salvage vessels to support the operation are en route and expected on site shortly,” Ambrey said on August 13.
The response also includes aircraft, specialists, and more than 100 tonnes of equipment. Ambrey said it was working with authorities to stabilise the vessel, contain the pollution, and limit environmental damage.
Environmental Concerns and Costs
Oman‘s Environment Authority reported on August 12 that oil had contaminated beaches around Ras Madrakah, a remote coastal headland several hundred kilometres south of Muscat. It warned the pollution could extend along 40km of coastline, while 10km to 20km of southern Masirah Island might also be exposed.
Tony Gutierrez, a professor of environmental microbiology and biotechnology at Heriot-Watt University in the UK, said responders could try to contain and collect the oil. “This is usually a mammoth task and not always effective, depending on the location of the spill and prevailing conditions,” he told AGBI.
The protected Hallaniyat archipelago supports coral reefs, turtle nesting grounds, and habitats for dolphins, whales, and seabirds. The pollution could damage fishing and tourism and impose significant ecological and clean-up costs.
Michelle Wiese Bockmann, a senior maritime intelligence analyst at Windward, said it remained unclear who would foot the bill. “Who is going to pick up the multimillion-many-times-over cost of a huge oil spill like this?” she said. “Nobody knows.”
Original Article: Russian shadow-fleet ship at risk of breaking up off Oman — Agbi