Omani authorities confirmed that the oil spill from the crude oil tanker "Caroline Bezengi," which has been stranded off Oman's coast since 30 June, has reached the shoreline. Oman’s Environmental Authority reported that recent inspections found some beaches in the Ras Madrakah area affected by oil pollution. It is estimated that approximately 40 kilometers of coastline may be impacted, with the oil spill potentially spreading over an area exceeding 2,000 square kilometers.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations agency for shipping, stated it is closely monitoring the situation. The vessel is located about 22 nautical miles from Oman's coastal city of Sharbatat, with the oil slick drifting northeast of Al-Ghubailiyah Island. Reports indicate that some of the oil has already reached land.
IMO officials said seasonal monsoon winds make accessing the ship difficult, causing delays in salvage operations. Meanwhile, Omani authorities noted on Monday that the oil spill has affected roughly 390 square kilometers, based on environmental agency assessments. However, oil pollution experts analyzing satellite imagery estimate the affected area may have expanded to over 2,000 square kilometers.
The "Caroline Bezengi" tanker, carrying about 800,000 barrels of Russian crude oil and subject to international sanctions, was damaged and encountered problems off Yemen's coast starting 8 June after reports of an explosion. It then ran aground off Oman's coast on 30 June. No party has claimed responsibility for attacking the ship.
The affected area is near the Hallaniyat Islands, a marine protected zone and habitat for numerous marine species, including rare sea turtles, Arabian humpback whales, and Socotra cormorants. Additionally, the southern coast of Masirah Island, spanning 10 to 20 kilometers, may be impacted by the oil spill within the coming hours.
Greenpeace and the organization PAX have warned the situation is nearing an environmental disaster. The tanker may carry up to approximately one million barrels of crude oil and is believed to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet, used to evade Western sanctions on oil exports.
Oil spill experts have cautioned that without adequate intervention, the vessel could suffer further structural damage from wind and waves, potentially releasing all remaining crude oil onboard—estimated at 40 to 50 million gallons, or around 150 to 190 million liters. This could rival the scale of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989.
Omani authorities have deployed oil containment booms to control the spread, but experts say further action is needed. This includes stabilizing the ship and transferring the remaining crude oil to another vessel as soon as possible, because delays increase the risk of damage, complicate salvage operations, and make containment harder.
Meanwhile, Iranian media reported another oil spill in the Strait of Hormuz has reached Kish Island, affecting beaches and ecologically sensitive mangrove forests, as well as parts of nearby Hengam Island.
The maritime tracking website TankerTrackers suggested that this oil spill likely originated from the attack on the cargo ship Minoan Pioneer in Omani waters on 3 August, before the oil drifted across the strait to the Iranian coast.
An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that pollution has been detected in the sea and at least three locations, initially believed to originate from a "foreign cargo ship." They called on parties benefiting from commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to fulfill their legal and ethical responsibilities to compensate and remediate environmental damage in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.
,Reuters/ AFP