Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker runs aground off Oman, causing oil spill

An oil tanker belonging to Russia's 'shadow fleet' has run aground off the coast of Oman, leading to a substantial oil spill that is spreading across the sea. Oman's Environment Authority reported that the oil slick covers an estimated 390 square kilometers in the waters near the Hallaniyat Islands in the southern Dhofar Governorate.

The oil slick is reportedly moving northeast towards Oman's mainland, with the closest point estimated to be about 7 kilometers from the coast. This marks the first time the Omani government has disclosed the scale of the oil spill from the vessel, identified as the 'Caroline Bezenghi.' The tanker is known to be part of the 'shadow fleet,' a group of aging vessels used to transport Russian crude oil while circumventing Western sanctions through opaque ownership and operational structures.

The 'Caroline Bezenghi' is registered to a company based in Shanghai but is subject to sanctions by the European Union and the United Kingdom due to its alleged involvement in transporting Russian crude oil. Ship tracking data indicates the tanker departed from Novorossiysk, a major Russian oil export port on the Black Sea. It was first reported to show signs of distress on June 8 off the coast of Mukalla, Yemen, and its last known position signal was sent three days later off the Yemeni coast.

The exact cause of the tanker's damage and grounding remains undetermined, and Omani authorities have not provided detailed explanations regarding the incident. The origin of the crude oil on board and the full extent of the environmental impact are still under investigation.