Omani authorities say they are working to contain an oil spill covering nearly 400 square kilometers (150 square miles) off the country's southern coast, originating from a stricken tanker that has been stranded for over a month inside a protected marine area.
The Oman Environment Authority reported on Monday that the ongoing spill was within an estimated 7 kilometers (4.4 miles) of the coast, according to its latest analysis. Environmental group Greenpeace last week estimated the slick at around 600 square kilometers (230 square miles), citing satellite imagery analysis.
The Caroline Bezengi loaded at Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk in April and passed through the Suez Canal at the end of May, ship-tracking data shows. An investigation by the AFP news agency found that the tanker has been stranded since early June near Oman's al-Qibliyyah Island after an explosion caused water to enter several sections of the vessel.
The slick is concentrated around Oman's Hallaniyat archipelago, where Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said established a marine reserve last year to protect sensitive ecosystems home to diverse marine life, including rare sea turtles. The country's environment authority stressed the need for rapid action to protect biodiversity, including coral reefs, turtle nesting areas, and ecologically important coastal zones.
A report in the state-backed Oman News Agency quoted a Transport Ministry official as saying authorities were conducting aerial surveillance and had deployed divers. The official added that plans were in early stages to transfer the vessel's oil cargo to reduce risks, ensure navigational safety, and protect the marine environment.
Greenpeace and Dutch peace organization PAX told AFP that the spill was on the verge of causing an environmental disaster, noting the tanker was carrying around one million barrels of crude bound for Asia. The ship is believed to be part of Russia's shadow fleet, used to circumvent Western sanctions on oil exports, with vessels sailing under various flags to obscure true ownership.
The Caroline Bezengi is subject to sanctions imposed by the European Union, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Switzerland. Tankers have been frequently targeted in the Gulf region since the US-Israel war on Iran began at the end of February.
Source: www.aljazeera.com