Oman works to contain oil spill from grounded tanker

Oman is working to contain a major oil spill off its southern coast that has spread across hundreds of square kilometres from a stricken tanker stranded for over a month inside a protected marine area. The country's Environment Authority announced on August 10 that the slick from the tanker Caroline Bezengi covers an estimated 390 square kilometres and is within seven kilometres of the shore.

The tanker, which is believed to be part of Russia's shadow fleet used to circumvent Western sanctions, has been grounded near Oman's al-Qibliyyah Island since early June. The vessel first reported difficulties on June 8 off the coast of Yemen, with maritime security sources indicating an initial assessment pointed to a blast onboard. No party has claimed responsibility for an attack. Satellite imagery from August 5 shows the 274-metre tanker partly underwater, and the oil sheen has been spreading, reaching the shores of Qibliyah Island.

The spill is concentrated around the Hallaniyat archipelago, where Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said established a marine reserve last year to protect sensitive ecosystems. The area is home to diverse marine life, including rare Arabian Sea humpback whales,...