An oil spill was recorded over 390 square kilometers off the coast of Oman

Oil Slick Spreads Near Oman Following Tanker Damage

An oil slick has spread over an area of approximately 390 square kilometers off the coast of Oman, near the Halaniyat Islands. According to the country's authorities, the spill is linked to damage sustained by the sanctioned tanker Caroline Bezengi.

The 274-meter vessel, which was transporting Russian oil, was damaged off the coast of southern Yemen on June 8. According to maritime safety sources, the crew first reported problems at that time, and preliminary assessments suggest an explosion occurred on the vessel. The exact cause of the incident remains unknown to date.

According to Oman's Environment Authority, satellite data indicates that the oil slick covers approximately 390 square kilometers and extends in a north-easterly direction from the Halaniyat Islands. At its closest point, it is approximately 7 kilometers from the coast.

According to Reuters' satellite analysis, the oil spill continued to expand through the end of June, raising concerns about potential environmental damage.

Caroline Bezengi is part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" — a network of aging tankers that Russia uses to export oil while circumventing Western sanctions. The vessel is subject to sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United Kingdom.