A British firm starts containment of oil spill from stricken tanker off Oman

This satellite photo taken Wednesday Aug. 5, 2026, shows the tanker Caroline Bezengi, grounded and partly submerged off the coast of Oman, leaking crude oil into the sea. The vessel has been grounded off Qabiliyah Island in southwestern Oman following an explosion of unclear cause in early June. Its cargo previously has been estimated at more than 800,000 barrels. Satellite images have shown that oil from the tanker Caroline Bezengi has exponentially spread over hundreds of square kilometers during stormy weather, endangering a marine protected area. The region's “Khareef” monsoon season peaks in July and August. Ambrey, a UK-based maritime risk and response company, said its personnel boarded the vessel with help from the Omani air force to assess its condition before stabilizing it. The company did not immediately have any estimates of how long the salvage operation would take or cost. Oman’s Environment Authority said Wednesday the oil spill has reached the shores of Ras Madrakah, more than 200 kilometers north of Qabiliyah Island. Authorities estimated the spill could reach more than 100 kilometers further north, to Masirah Island. Hanen Keskes, a campaigner for the environmental group Greenpeace, said it is “extremely concerning” that the oil has spread from an offshore spill to the shoreline where it can contaminate coastal sediments. The marine protected area of Qabiliyah Island includes coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and endangered turtles, offering breeding sites for migratory birds. The area is also home to the rare Arabian Sea humpback whale. The remote area lacks infrastructure, making the salvage and containment more challenging and requiring more safety measures. The 247-meter Caroline Bezengi is believed to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” and has been sanctioned by the British government and the European Union for carrying cargoes of Russian oil. It had left the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, in Russia, in May, according to geospatial data tracking company SynMax Maritime. The vessel’s owners are believed to be Shanghai-based. The vessel is unflagged, and it is not clear if it is insured. It is only one of the environmental crises affecting the region. Off the coast of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian authorities are cleaning up an oil spill off of Qeshm Island attributed to the conflict between Iran and the United States. Images from Iran’s semi-official news agency ISNA show oil damage to sandy beaches of Qeshm. Iran has said it should receive compensation for its efforts to contain the damage. TankerTrackers.com posted satellite images on X saying it appears the spill was caused by an Iranian attack on a bulk container ship off Oman, drifting across the strait to Iran.