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Oil Spill Reaches Critical Levels
Leaking crude oil from a tanker grounded off a nature reserve in Oman has created a slick covering nearly 400 square kilometers, the Omani government confirmed . The environmental impact is intensifying near the Hallaniyat Islands, a sensitive area protected by royal decree for its diverse wildlife, including Arabian Sea humpback whales .
The vessel, Caroline Bezengi, was carrying close to one million barrels of Russian crude oil bound for Asia when it reported difficulties off Yemen on June 8. Initial assessments indicated a possible explosion onboard, though no party has claimed responsibility .
Oman’s Environment Authority stated the slick covers some 390 square kilometers (150 square miles) . However, environmental group Greenpeace, citing satellite imagery, estimates the affected area may be significantly larger, at around 600 square kilometers . Other satellite analysis suggests the spill could have reached nearly 800 square kilometers by August 7 .
Environmental and Ecological Threat
The spill threatens the Arabian Sea reserve, a marine protected area which is home to endangered species like the Arabian Sea humpback whale and Socotra cormorants . The slick extends northeast of the islands and is now within an estimated seven kilometers of the coast .
Tony Gutierrez, a professor of environmental microbiology at Heriot-Watt University, warned that a spill of this scale requires dispersant spraying and the use of booms to prevent the oil from reaching the coastline, where it could devastate coral, birds, and fish .
The Shadow Fleet Vessel
The Caroline Bezengi is part of the so-called “shadow fleet” of older, often poorly maintained tankers used by Russia to transport oil and circumvent Western sanctions . Built in 2001, the vessel lacks Western insurance cover and had been flying the flag of Cameroon before being de-listed from its registry in June . The ship is subject to sanctions imposed by the EU, UK, Canada, and Switzerland .
