Salvors work to secure Russian shadow fleet ship leaking oil off Oman, risk firm Ambrey says

Salvage crews are heading to waters off Oman to contain an oil spill from a Russian crude tanker, the Caroline Bezengi, which has been leaking for weeks following an apparent attack in June. The spill has spread around a nature reserve and reached Oman's coastline on Wednesday, posing a significant environmental threat.

The risk management firm Ambrey is coordinating the operation, contracting a leading international oil spill response company. The response involves salvage vessels, aircraft, and specialists equipped with 100 metric tons of gear. The Caroline Bezengi, carrying an estimated 800,000 barrels of Russian oil, is under international sanctions. It ran aground on June 30 near an Omani marine nature reserve that is home to vulnerable wildlife, including humpback whales and Socotra cormorants.

Salvage efforts are being complicated by the annual monsoon season in the region. Oman's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources is monitoring the impact on marine life and local fish products, advising fishermen to avoid the affected area and report any unusual observations.

The tanker first reported difficulties off Yemen on June 8, with maritime sources suggesting a blast occurred. Images released by Ambrey show burn marks on the grounded vessel, indicating a fire or explosion, though the cause remains undetermined. No party has claimed responsibility for an attack. The vessel's journey from the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk to India involved navigating through areas of conflict, including the Russia-Ukraine war zone and waters near Yemen, where Iran-aligned Houthi militants are active.