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Massive Oil Spill Spreads Off Oman After Explosion on Sanctioned Russian Tanker
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A sanctioned tanker carrying Russian crude oil has spilled a large amount of oil off the coast of Oman, creating a major oil slick.
The spill from the Caroline Bezengi has created an oil slick covering approximately 390 square kilometers (about 150 square miles), according to Reuters on August 10.
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Satellite imagery analysis conducted by Reuters alongside maritime shipping experts indicated that petroleum was still discharging from the drifting vessel in late July.
Oman’s Environment Authority reported that the spreading slick near Omani islands has approached within 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) of the mainland at its closest point, prompting local authorities to initiate containment and cleanup measures in territorial waters.
According to vessel tracking data, the Caroline Bezengi was transporting Russian crude oil when crew members first reported emergency issues on June 8 near the Yemeni port of Mukalla. Maritime security experts told Reuters that preliminary information indicates an onboard explosion took place.
The ship’s transponder sent its final signal on June 11 off the coast of Yemen, and the cause of the damage remains unconfirmed as Omani authorities have not issued official statements on the incident's origins.
The vessel is currently subject to sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United Kingdom due to its involvement in transporting raw materials from Russia.
European nations and maritime experts have repeatedly warned about the heightened potential for ecological emergencies stemming from Russia's reliance on aging vessels.
Russia’s shadow fleet consists of over 1,000 ships, many of which operate in degraded technical conditions without standard insurance coverage.
Last year, the UK Foreign Office characterized the fleet by stating: "The shadow fleet is a desperate and dangerous attempt by Putin to maintain oil revenues, polluting the seas. Russia uses vessels that ignore basic safety standards and put Europe at risk of large-scale environmental disasters."
Recent investigative reports published in 2024 and 2025 by Politico and the journalism non-profit SourceMaterial documented recurring incidents of oil leaks and discharges from vessels carrying Russian cargo worldwide, including within European waters.
On February 13, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree enacting the National Security and Defense Council's decision to sanction 91 maritime vessels identified as part of Russia’s shadow fleet.
These ships had been used to transport Russian oil and petroleum products from ports such as Novorossiysk, Ust-Luga, and Primorsk to third countries, bypassing international sanctions.
Operating under the flags of roughly 20 nations, the vessels were targeted as part of a broader effort to curb the revenues funding Russia’s military operations, with Ukrainian officials emphasizing that every shadow fleet vessel served as a key mechanism for circumvention.
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