BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 10. An oil slick covering approximately 390 square kilometres (150 square miles) has spread off the coast of Oman after a sanctioned vessel carrying Russian crude oil sustained damage, according to Omani authorities.
Oman’s Environment Authority, cited by the country’s state news agency, said efforts were underway to contain the oil leak from the tanker Caroline Bezengi in waters near the Hallaniyat Islands in the southern Dhofar governorate.
The authority said the oil slick is moving northeast from the islands toward the mainland and, at its closest point, is estimated to be around 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) from the shoreline.
Two maritime security sources told Reuters that the crew first reported problems on June 8 near Yemen’s southern port of Mukalla. Initial assessments indicated that an explosion may have occurred onboard the vessel.
The cause of the tanker’s damage remains unclear, and Omani authorities have not provided an explanation for the incident.
Shipping data showed that the vessel had been carrying Russian crude oil before the voyage. According to Reuters, the tanker last transmitted a public AIS tracking signal on June 11 off the coast of Yemen.
