--- title: "Environmental Threat in Oman: 'Shadow Fleet' Tanker Caroline Bezengi Spills Oil in Nature Reserve" description: "🛢️ Oil is spilling from the tanker Caroline Bezengi off the coast of Oman. 🌊 A slick up to 600 km² is moving towards the Hallaniyat Reserve. 🚫 The vessel belongs to the Russian 'shadow fleet' and departed from Novorossiysk. ⚠️ Ecologists are sounding the alarm for whales and corals. #Oman #Ecology #Oil #ShadowFleet" date: 2026-08-11T00:14:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/oil-spill-tanker-caroline-bezengi-oman-2026-en tags: [oman, oil-spill, shadow-fleet, environment, caroline-bezengi] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Environmental Threat in Oman: 'Shadow Fleet' Tanker Caroline Bezengi Spills Oil in Nature Reserve ![Oil tanker Caroline Bezengi docked in Oman, raising environmental concerns due to oil spills in a nature reserve](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/11/utechka-nefti-tanker-caroline-bezengi-oman-2026/utechka-nefti-tanker-caroline-bezengi-oman-2026-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - The tanker Caroline Bezengi is spilling oil off the coast of Oman; the slick has reached 390-600 sq. km. - The vessel belongs to the Russian 'shadow fleet' and departed from Novorossiysk in April 2026. - The leak occurred in the area of the new Hallaniyat nature reserve, threatening rare species. - There are disagreements between the authorities of Oman and Greenpeace regarding the exact area of pollution. A major environmental drama is unfolding off the coast of the Sultanate of Oman. In the waters adjacent to the protected Hallaniyat Islands, a serious crude oil leak has been detected from the tanker *Caroline Bezengi*. The vessel, which found itself in a critical situation, has caused an oil slick that, according to preliminary estimates, has already covered hundreds of square kilometers. The incident has attracted the attention of international ecologists and regional authorities, raising concerns about the preservation of the unique marine ecosystem. ### Scale of the Spill and Government Actions The Oman Environment Authority has confirmed the spill, reporting that the oil slick has spread over an area of approximately 390 square kilometers. Currently, the pollution is moving in a north-easterly direction from the islands and is located about seven kilometers from the coastline. Despite the seriousness of the situation, official representatives of Oman have stated that there is currently no immediate threat to coastal infrastructure, including desalination plants and tourist facilities. The country's authorities have already begun operations to mitigate the consequences of the emergency, although the exact completion date of the operation has not yet been announced. ### The 'Shadow Fleet' Vessel and Its Route According to ship tracking systems, the tanker *Caroline Bezengi* has a long history of operation characteristic of the so-called 'shadow fleet'. The vessel, built in 2001, loaded oil at the Russian port of Novorossiysk back in April of this year. At the end of May, the tanker passed through the Suez Canal, heading towards its destination. Experts note that such vessels are often used to transport Russian hydrocarbons in circumvention of Western sanctions. They may lack international insurance coverage and use flags of different jurisdictions to conceal real owners, which significantly complicates the process of holding them accountable in the event of accidents. ### Environmental Risks for the Hallaniyat Reserve The geographical location of the incident is of particular concern. Last year, the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq, issued a decree to create a nature reserve around the Hallaniyat Islands. This territory is a key habitat for rare marine species, including Arabian Sea humpback whales and Socotra cormorants. The entry of oil into these waters could cause irreparable damage to the region's biodiversity. Ecologists warn that the long-term consequences of the spill may manifest over years, affecting the reproductive cycles of marine life and the condition of coral reefs. ### Contradictory Data There are significant discrepancies in the assessment of the scale of pollution between official sources and independent organizations. The Oman Environment Authority cites a spill area of 390 square kilometers. At the same time, the international environmental organization Greenpeace, having analyzed satellite images, estimates the spill area at approximately 600 square kilometers. This substantial difference in figures may indicate that the actual volume of pollution exceeds official data, or it may reflect differences in the methodologies used to calculate the area of the oil film. Independent experts lean towards the version that the real situation may be more critical than the local department claims. ### Security Context and Strikes on the 'Shadow Fleet' The incident involving the *Caroline Bezengi* is taking place against the backdrop of an escalation in the security situation regarding Russian oil maritime transport. The Russian Federation continues to actively use the 'shadow fleet' for exports, however, such vessels are becoming increasingly vulnerable. In particular, on August 9, 2026, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported the destruction of three 'shadow fleet' vessels in the Black Sea, including an oil tanker and two bulk carriers. Recently, Ukrainian drones have attacked 13 Russian vessels in the waters of the Black and Azov Seas. These events highlight the heightened risks faced by vessels involved in sanctioned trade and may indicate a rise in accident rates in this segment. ### Technical Aspects of Remediation Specialists in the field of environmental microbiology, in particular Professor Tony Gutierrez of Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, note that the scale of the spill requires the application of a comprehensive cleanup strategy. To combat the consequences, special chemical dispersants that allow oil to be broken down may be used, as well as mechanical methods such as booms and equipment for collecting oil from the water surface. According to experts, the greatest danger arises if the oil slick reaches shallow waters and the coast. Under such conditions, petroleum products can cause critical harm to corals, seabirds, and fish stocks, which would require years of effort to restore the ecosystem. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Oil-laden tanker sinks off the coast of Oman](https://news.ru/world/u-beregov-omana-tonet-zabityj-pod-zavyazku-neftyanoj-tanker) - Подтверждает факт инцидента и тонущего танкера. - [Arab News: Oil leak occurs on sinking tanker off the coast of Oman](https://news.rambler.ru/army/56883400-arab-news-u-poberezhya-omana-proizoshla-utechka-nefti-na-tonuschem-tankere/) - Подтверждает утечку и ссылается на Arab News. - [Ecological disaster off Oman: oil tanker sinks in nature reserve](https://www.mk.ru/incident/2026/08/10/ekokatastrofa-u-omana-tanker-s-neftyu-tonet-v-zapovednike.html) - Подтверждает локализацию в заповеднике и экологические риски. - [Media: Oil spill off the coast of Oman from sanctioned Russian tanker](https://korrespondent.net/world/4895295-smy-u-berehov-omana-proyzoshel-razlyv-nefty-s-podsanktsyonnoho-tankera-rf) - Подтверждает принадлежность к подсанкционному флоту РФ. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Which vessel is spilling oil off Oman? **A:** Oil is spilling from the tanker Caroline Bezengi, which belongs to the 'shadow fleet'. ### Q: What is the area of the oil slick? **A:** Oman authorities cite an area of 390 sq. km, while Greenpeace estimates it at 600 sq. km. ### Q: Where exactly did the incident occur? **A:** The leak occurred near the Hallaniyat Islands, which are a nature reserve. ### Q: Where did the tanker come from? **A:** The vessel loaded oil at the port of Novorossiysk in April 2026.