How large is the oil slick off Oman?

The oil slick covers an area of about 600 square kilometers, according to data from Greenpeace.

What is Russia's 'shadow fleet'?

It is an informal term for a fleet of tankers that transport Russian oil, often circumventing international sanctions. The tanker Caroline Bezengi is under EU sanctions.

What are the potential consequences of the oil spill?

Greenpeace warns of a disaster for sea turtles, migratory birds, marine mammals, coral reefs, and the habitat of the rare Arabian humpback whale.

World

600-Square-Kilometer Oil Spill Threatens Oman's Coast

Q: How much oil is the tanker Caroline Bezengi carrying?

The tanker is carrying about 110,000 tons of crude oil.

S.V. · Prije 1h | 2 min

The tanker Caroline Bezengi, part of Russia's 'shadow fleet,' has run aground and is leaking 110,000 tons of crude oil into an ecologically sensitive area.

Summary

The tanker Caroline Bezengi ran aground off the coast of Oman, creating a 600-square-kilometer oil slick.
The vessel is carrying 110,000 tons of crude oil and is part of Russia's EU-sanctioned 'shadow fleet.'
The environmental disaster threatens protected islands, coral reefs, and rare species such as the Arabian humpback whale.
It is speculated that the incident may have been caused by a Ukrainian mine, and the ship is owned by a company linked to a fictitious firm in Shanghai.

Satellite imagery reveals the development of a potential environmental disaster off the coast of Oman, where the tanker Caroline Bezengi has run aground and is leaking oil uncontrollably. According to data from the environmental organization Greenpeace, the oil slick has grown to cover an area of approximately 600 square kilometers, nearly three times the amount of oil spilled in 1989 from the Exxon Valdez tanker off the coast of Alaska.

The German news agency dpa reports that images, sourced from Planet Labs PBC and Reuters, show increasing amounts of oil leaking from the 270-meter-long vessel. The tanker is carrying about 110,000 tons of crude oil and is believed to be part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet," also subject to European Union sanctions.

Ecological Threat to Protected Area

Caroline Bezengi ran aground in an ecologically highly sensitive region. Greenpeace warns that the oil spill threatens sea turtles, migratory birds, marine mammals, and coral reefs. The waters around protected islands in the area, where seabirds breed and turtles lay their eggs, are also home to the rare Arabian humpback whale.

Mysterious Incident and Russia's "Shadow Fleet"

According to satellite data analysis firm Synmax, the tanker likely loaded oil at the Russian port of Novorossiysk. It is believed the ship suffered an accident at sea as early as early June, and has not transmitted its position since. According to available data, the tanker was likely en route to an Indian port.

There is speculation about the cause of the incident. One scenario is that the ship may have been hit by a mine laid by Ukraine, which has on several occasions targeted vessels from Russia's "shadow fleet." The vessel belongs to a Chinese company, and that company, along with other ships in its fleet, is allegedly linked to a fictitious firm in Shanghai.