A satellite image captures an oil slick covering roughly 390 square kilometers (about 150 square miles) off the coast of Oman. The government reported that the spill resulted from damage to a vessel under sanctions that was transporting Russian crude oil. The Caroline Bezengi’s crew initially reported problems on June 8 near the Yemeni port of Mukalla, with early assessments suggesting a possible onboard explosion.
Oman’s environmental authorities are actively working to contain and mitigate the spill, which they confirmed covers an area extending northeast from the Hallaniyat Islands toward the mainland. The closest point of the slick is estimated to be around seven kilometers from the shoreline. Satellite imagery analyzed by authorities indicates that the spill is still spreading, prompting concerns about potential environmental consequences.
The vessel suffered damage without an official explanation provided by Oman. Prior to the incident, the ship was loaded with Russian crude oil and last transmitted its position via public AIS tracking on June 11 off Yemen’s coast.
Russia is known for operating an aging fleet of tankers—often poorly maintained—that are used to bypass international sanctions on Russian oil exports. The Caroline Bezengi has been targeted with sanctions by the European Union and Britain due to alleged involvement in transporting Russian fuel.