Oman oil spill from grounded tanker

The tanker Caroline Bezengi, a sanctioned vessel believed to be part of Russia's shadow fleet, grounded off the coast of Oman after reporting an explosion in June while carrying nearly 1 million barrels of crude oil. Oil has been leaking from the partially submerged tanker, spreading rapidly over an area exceeding 600 square kilometers due to monsoon winds and currents. The spill has contaminated the beaches of Ras Madrakah on mainland Oman, about 200 kilometers north of Qabiliyah Island, and threatens the southern coasts of Masirah Island. Oman's Oman — Environment Authority (Oman) is monitoring the leak and has warned of further contamination. The tanker, whose owners are believed to be Shanghai-based, had left the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk in May, according to SynMax Maritime. The vessel has been sanctioned by the United Kingdom and the European Union for carrying Russian oil. No party has claimed responsibility for the explosion, and its cause remains unknown. Oman has been a mediator in the ongoing war in Iran, which the United States and Israel launched on February 28.