Oman works to contain major oil spill from stranded tanker off southern coast

Oman is working to contain a large oil spill off its southern coast after a tanker stranded for more than a month began leaking inside a protected marine area. The spill from the Caroline Bezengi covers almost 400 square kilometres, according to Omani authorities, and is being monitored near the Hallaniyat archipelago. The vessel has been stranded near al-Qibliyyah Island since early June after an explosion, and the slick is now close to the coast.

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The Oman Environment Authority said on Monday that its latest analysis placed the spill within about 7 km of land. Greenpeace had previously estimated the slick at around 600 square kilometres based on satellite imagery, indicating a wider affected area than the official figure. The tanker loaded at Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk in April and passed through the Suez Canal at the end of May, according to ship-tracking data cited in the report.

Omani authorities have not yet identified the cause of the spill. A Transport Ministry official said authorities were carrying out aerial surveillance and had deployed divers to the site. The same official said work was under way on a plan to transfer the vessel's oil cargo in order to reduce risks, protect navigational safety and limit damage to the marine environment.

The environment authority said rapid action was needed to protect biodiversity, including coral reefs, turtle nesting areas, marine habitats and coastal areas of ecological importance. The incident matters because it is unfolding in a sensitive ecological zone that Omani authorities designated as a marine reserve last year. The Hallaniyat archipelago is home to diverse marine life, including rare sea turtles, and the spill is already affecting an area that environmental officials say is of ecological importance.

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The proximity of the slick to the coast also raises the risk of wider contamination if the oil spreads further. The Caroline Bezengi is believed to be part of Russia's shadow fleet, a term used for ships that are said to help Moscow move oil while avoiding Western sanctions. The tanker was reportedly carrying around one million barrels of crude bound for Asia, according to Greenpeace and PAX.

That makes the incident not only an environmental emergency but also part of a broader debate over the risks posed by ageing or opaque shipping networks operating across major trade routes. What remains unclear is the exact cause of the explosion, the condition of the vessel and how much oil may still be on board. It is also not yet known how quickly the cargo can be transferred or whether the spill can be contained before it reaches more sensitive habitats.

The next developments to watch are the outcome of the transfer plan, the scale of any further leakage and whether Omani authorities confirm the full extent of the environmental damage.

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