Spill from grounded sanctioned tanker reaches Oman's coast

Oil leaking from the grounded tanker Caroline Bezengi has spread over more than 2,000 square kilometres and reached the Omani coastline, MarineLink reported on 12 August. The 25-year-old sanctioned vessel, carrying about 800,000 barrels of Russian oil, ran aground on 30 June near Ras Madraka and Masirah Island after reporting trouble off Yemen on 8 June following what maritime sources called an apparent blast. A marine reserve is threatened. SkyTruth's John Amos warned that a full break-up of the ship could cause a spill of 40 to 50 million gallons. The report says the IOPC Funds declined involvement, treating the incident as an act of war, and that the ship has no cover from a recognised Western insurer.

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