💛 A quick favor, if you've got a second.
We're really happy that you chose to read one of our stories and sincerely hope you'll stick around to read more. We took our paywall down — for now — but that won't last forever, and when the gate goes back up, we'd love for you to already be on the inside.
It's free. So please enter your email here and don't forget to like and follow us on all of your favorite Social Media platforms!
Recent satellite analysis has documented a spreading oil slick surrounding the Caroline Bezengi, a sanctioned vessel stranded off Oman’s southern coast since June. The slick now covers approximately 20 square kilometers near Dhofar’s Qibliyah Island in the protected Hallaniyat Islands, with dark crude patches visible along the shoreline. Environmental specialists warn the situation has deteriorated in recent days, intensifying fears of a major environmental catastrophe.
Wim Zwijnenburg, an environmental analyst at Dutch organization PAX, told the Associated Press that satellite imagery from recent days shows increased oil discharge as the visible sheen continues to expand. The most serious threat stems from potential hull failure when the region’s monsoon season brings powerful winds and heavy seas that could compromise the vessel’s structural integrity. The 899-foot tanker has been battered by harsh conditions since becoming disabled in June following an onboard explosion near Yemen’s Mukalla port.
The Cameroon-flagged ship loaded Russian crude at Novoressiysk in the Black Sea before its final voyage, according to ship-tracking data reviewed by Reuters. Authorities in the United Kingdom, European Union, Canada and Switzerland have sanctioned the vessel for allegedly participating in Russia’s “shadow fleet,” a network of aging tankers designed to circumvent Western sanctions imposed following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Estimates suggest the tanker holds more than 800,000 barrels of crude, with maritime specialists indicating at least one hull breach has occurred. Observers also report the ship is listing, compounding collapse risks. The spill threatens the Arabian Sea’s protected marine reserve, home to endangered petrels and other vulnerable species.
Greenpeace Germany cautioned that existing pollution has already reached coastal areas and damaged the region’s delicate marine ecosystem, while the International Maritime Organization continues monitoring developments. Oman’s Ministry of Transport issued a July 23 deadline for cargo removal, though compliance status remains unclear.
More Stories
Bodies of Renowned Climber Nirmal Purja and Three Others Recovered After Broad Peak Avalanche
Ceuta Confronts Tensions After Thousands of Migrants Breach Spanish Border
Moscow Mayor Declares Restaurant Bombing a ‘Terrorist Act’ as Death Toll Rises