Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker Off Oman Leaks 600 Square Kilometres of Oil

Satellite images from August 4 showed the oil slick from the Caroline Bezengi had grown to roughly 600 square kilometres off the Omani coast. The tanker, sanctioned and linked to Russia's shadow fleet, ran aground in early June and has been breaking up on rocks near the Al Hallaniyat archipelago.

Greenpeace declared the situation an environmental disaster. The group cited threats to coral reefs, sea turtles, and migratory birds that use the protected waters around the islands as nesting habitat. According to Greenpeace, the slick covered about 150 square kilometres on August 2 before satellite data showed it had quadrupled by August 4.

Oman responded to the stranded tanker off the Dhofar coast. The Caroline Bezengi has been shedding oil steadily since June.

For context on vessel activity around the affected coastline, see our guides to tracking oil tankers, coastal versus deep-sea tracking, and analyzing ship route history.