Full Breakdown
Grounded Suezmax Tanker Leaks Crude Near Oman's Marine Reserve
8/2/2026, 1:00:26 AM
Grounding and Oil Spread
A 274-meter (899-foot) Suezmax tanker named Caroline Bezengi ran aground off Qibliyah Island in Oman’s Dhofar region. Satellite images reviewed by the Associated Press show an oil sheen covering roughly 20 sq km (8 sq mi) and dark slicks on the island’s shoreline. The leak has been gradual, with low-quantity releases over the past week, and the slick now encircles the island.
Background and Sanctions
The Cameroon-flagged vessel is sanctioned by the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada and Switzerland for transporting Russian crude linked to activities that “destabilize Ukraine.” Prior tracking data placed the tanker in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk in May before its current voyage. Environmental expert Wim Zwijnenburg of the Dutch peace group PAX estimates the ship carries more than 800,000 barrels of crude oil.
Environmental Impact and Data
The spill has polluted stretches of coastline within the Arabian Sea Reserve, a protected area home to endangered petrels and other marine wildlife. As of July 24, the damage to the sensitive ecosystem was already evident. The monsoon season (May-September) brings strong winds and rough seas, raising the risk that the hull could break and release a larger volume of oil.
Official Statements
“The situation surrounding the tanker Caroline Bezengi is yet another alarming example of the serious environmental risks posed by Russia’s so-called shadow fleet,” — Nina Noelle, of Greenpeace Germany in a statement shared with AP
“With oil apparently continuing to leak and the tanker stranded in a difficult location, there is a serious risk of a much larger oil disaster, with even more devastating consequences for the region’s coastlines and marine ecosystems,” — Nina Noelle, of Greenpeace Germany in a statement shared with AP
Removal Order and Outlook
The Omani Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology ordered the vessel’s owners to remove the tanker and its cargo by July 23. As of the latest imagery from July 28, the oil remains concentrated in the bay northwest of the grounded ship, with the sheen still enveloping the coast.
