Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Oman Oil Spill From Sanctioned Russian Crude Tanker Spreads Widely
A big ship called the Caroline Bezengi was carrying oil from Russia when something went wrong.
The ship got damaged, so oil started leaking into the sea.
The oil has spread across a huge area of ocean near the country of Oman.
The oily patch is about 390 square kilometres, which is bigger than many cities.
It is getting close to land, coming within about seven kilometres of the shore.
The government of Oman is now trying to deal with the spill.
People are worried because oil spills can hurt fish, birds, and the whole ocean environment.
The ship was part of a group of older Russian tankers used to move oil even though some countries have said that is not allowed.
The crew first reported problems in early June near Yemen's coast, and experts think there may have been an explosion on the ship.
No one is sure yet what caused the damage, and cleaning up the mess could be difficult.
Oman said Monday that an oil slick covering roughly 390 square kilometres is spreading off its coast near the Hallaniyat Islands in the southern governorate of Dhofar.
The spill comes from the Caroline Bezengi, a 274-metre tanker under EU and British sanctions that was carrying Russian crude.
The vessel's crew first reported difficulties on June 8 off Yemen's Mukalla port, and initial assessments indicated a blast occurred onboard.
The slick extends northeast towards Oman's mainland, coming within an estimated seven kilometres of the shore at its nearest point.
Reuters analysis indicates the spill was still spreading at the end of last month, and the tanker last transmitted an AIS signal on June 11 off Yemen's coast.
- Who
- Oman's Environment Authority, the crew of the Caroline Bezengi tanker, and two maritime security sources
- What
- An oil spill covering about 390 square kilometres from the sanctioned tanker Caroline Bezengi, which was carrying Russian crude
- When
- Announced on Monday, August 10; the crew first reported difficulties on June 8, and the vessel's last AIS transmission was June 11
- Where
- Off the coast of Oman, near the Hallaniyat Islands in the southern governorate of Dhofar, not far from Yemen's Mukalla port
- Why
- The vessel sustained damage — initial assessments indicated a blast onboard — while carrying Russian crude; the exact cause remains unclear
- Oil slick size
- Approximately 390 sq km (150 sq miles)
- Nearest point to shore
- About 7 km
- Vessel
- Caroline Bezengi, a 274-metre (900-foot) tanker
- Cargo
- Russian crude
- First reported difficulties
- June 8, off Yemen's port of Mukalla
- Last AIS transmission
- June 11, off the coast of Yemen
- Sanctions imposed by
- European Union and Britain
- Location
- Waters off the Hallaniyat Islands, Dhofar governorate, southern Oman