According to CNN, the oil spill has affected an estimated 500 square miles, or around 1,300 square kilometres, of the sea. Environmental group Greenpeace said satellite imagery showed the oil spreading in several separate patches rather than forming one continuous slick.
Omani authorities have confirmed that the oil has reached the mainland, located around 200 kilometres from the tanker stranded in the Arabian Sea. However, the government has not yet officially confirmed the total size of the affected area.
Greenpeace campaigner Hanan Kisks said satellite images showed several separate areas of oil pollution, indicating that the spill was spreading across different parts of the sea rather than remaining concentrated in one location.
A Reuters report published a day earlier cited an expert who analysed satellite imagery and estimated that the affected area had already exceeded 2,000 square kilometres. Despite the differing estimates, Omani authorities have not issued a final official figure.
According to Reuters, Oman’s Environment Authority warned that the oil could affect around 40 kilometres of coastline near Ras Madrakah and could also reach Masirah Island.
Masirah Island and its surrounding waters are home to important marine ecosystems, including the Arabian Sea humpback whale and several other marine species. Environmental experts fear that the oil could cause significant damage to these sensitive habitats.
Greenpeace said the spill had expanded rapidly in recent weeks. The organisation estimated that the affected area was around 45 square kilometres at the end of July, increasing to about 150 square kilometres by the beginning of August before expanding several times further within days.
The oil is leaking from the Caroline Bezengi, a tanker carrying around 800,000 barrels of Russian crude oil. The vessel was under international sanctions and was considered part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet used to transport Russian oil.
The tanker departed from Novorossiysk, a Russian Black Sea port. It passed through the Suez Canal at the end of May before travelling near Yemen and heading towards Oman.
Reuters reported that the tanker encountered difficulties near Yemen on June 8. Maritime sources suspected an explosion on board, although the exact nature of the incident remains unclear and no party has claimed responsibility for an attack.
The tanker later reached waters near Oman and became stranded at sea on June 30. Following the damage, oil continued to leak from the vessel, spreading over several weeks and eventually reaching Oman’s coastline.
The tanker is approximately 274 metres long and was built in 2001. According to Reuters, it is under sanctions imposed by the European Union, Britain, Canada, Switzerland and Ukraine because of its involvement in transporting Russian oil.
Efforts to contain the spill have been complicated by weather conditions as well as legal and financial issues. The International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds told Reuters that it would not cover the cleanup costs because the incident was being treated as a possible act of war rather than an accident.
The tanker also does not have insurance from a recognised Western insurer, further complicating responsibility for cleanup costs and potential compensation.
Experts have warned that the situation could become significantly worse if the tanker is not stabilised and the remaining crude oil is not transferred to another vessel. Strong winds and waves could cause further structural damage, potentially releasing more oil into the sea.
In a worst-case scenario, experts estimate that the spill could reach tens of millions of gallons. Environmental expert John Amos warned that such an outcome could make the incident comparable in scale to the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska.
The United Nations International Maritime Organization said monsoon conditions had restricted access to the tanker and delayed salvage operations. The organisation said emergency plans were in place to respond to the spill.
British maritime security company Ambrey is also involved in the international response. The company said ships and aircraft would take part in the operation, while more than 100 tonnes of equipment was being transported to the affected area. However, monsoon conditions have made the operation more difficult.
Experts warn that delaying efforts to stabilise the tanker and remove the remaining oil could make the operation increasingly difficult and dangerous. Without timely intervention, the spill could develop into a major environmental crisis for Oman’s coastline and the wider Arabian Sea ecosystem.
