Sanctioned oil tanker sinks further off Oman coast

A sanctioned tanker carrying nearly 1 million barrels of oil appears to have sunk further into waters off Oman, where it has remained grounded for several weeks, according to satellite images reviewed by The Associated Press (AP).

Crude oil has been leaking from the Caroline Bezengi and spreading rapidly in recent days, reaching the shores of Qibliyah Island off Oman’s southwestern coast.

As of August 7, the oil slick had covered nearly 800 square kilometres, according to Wim Zwijnenburg, an environmental expert with Dutch organisation PAX, which monitors environmental damage in conflict zones.

Greenpeace Germany, which has also been tracking the incident, said the spill is expanding, suggesting that the tanker’s condition is deteriorating.

The affected waters are part of the Arabian Sea reserve, a marine protected area that is home to endangered wildlife, including petrels and the rare Arabian Sea humpback whale.

The 247-meter Caroline Bezengi ran aground off Qibliyah Island in southwestern Oman after an explosion was reportedly detected on board on June 8.

The tanker is believed to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” and has been sanctioned by the British government and the European Union for transporting Russian oil. According to geospatial data tracking company SynMax Maritime, the vessel departed the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk in May.

By Jeyhun Aghazada