Article ID: 888ea3ca7dd97152df2a014e9c3802479184093156e4622de62f4e2c6be9a39c
Source ID: primary:insurancejournal.com
Published At: -
Extraction Method: trafilatura
URL: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2026/08/13/881350.htm
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Specialists are racing to salvage a sinking shadow-fleet tanker off Oman that has caused a massive oil slick, with rough monsoon conditions threatening to hamper the effort. Specialist personnel have already boarded the Caroline Bezengi, a Suezmax that’s grounded among the Hallaniyat Islands on Oman’s southern coast, with salvage vessels, aircraft and equipment on the way, maritime risk and response company Ambrey said in a statement. The region is in the midst of its seasonal monsoon, which brings unpredictable sea and weather conditions. It’s a race against time to contain an oil slick that already covers about six-and-a-half times the land area of Manhattan, or 390 square kilometers, according to the state-run Oman News Agency. Oman’s government agency that oversees environmental issues confirmed on Wednesday that beaches on the mainland have been contaminated by oil as it was monitoring the spill that emanated from the vessel, according to the news outlet. The waters around the Hallaniyat Islands are home to diverse coral reefs, fish and turtles that visit its beaches to lay their eggs, while dolphins and whales can be seen in the surrounding waters. Caroline Bezengi was first identified aground in late June on the western end of Al-Qibliyah Island that’s part of the Hallaniyat Islands, when it was likely carrying around 800,000 to 1 million barrels of crude oil, according to satellite images and information analyzed by SynMax Maritime. Images showed a white sheen floating on water extending from the vessel, often taken as a sign that there’s an oil discharge. The tanker has been sanctioned by the European Union and the UK for its role in transporting Russian crude oil. In May, the vessel left Novorossiysk, Russia’s key crude export hub in the Black Sea that’s been the focus of Ukrainian attacks, ship-tracking data show. Photograph: The Caroline Bezengi as seen as a white strip in the lower left corner of the island in this satellite image captured on Aug. 7, 2026; the white sheen suggests an oil spill. Source: Sentinel Hub via Bloomberg Related: Was this article valuable? Here are more articles you may enjoy.
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