Caroline Bezengi oil spill off Oman

The tanker Caroline Bezengi, carrying nearly one million barrels of Russian crude oil, ran aground off Oman's Hallaniyat Islands on June 30, 2026, after reporting an explosion off Yemen on June 8. The vessel, part of Russia's shadow fleet and sanctioned by multiple countries, has been leaking oil, creating a slick that has expanded from about 390 square kilometers in early August to over 600 square kilometers, reaching Omani mainland beaches at Ras Madrakah and threatening Masirah Island. The spill has endangered a marine reserve established by Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, home to rare sea turtles, humpback whales, and coral reefs. In mid-August, British firm Ambrey was contracted to lead salvage operations, boarding the vessel with Omani air force assistance, but the operation faces challenges from monsoon conditions. The International Maritime Organization declined involvement, treating the incident as an act of war, and the tanker lacks Western insurance. Environmental groups warn of a potential disaster rivaling the Exxon Valdez spill if the vessel breaks apart.