Oman oil leak threatens marine reserve, NGOs warn

An oil leak from a stranded tanker near an Omani nature reserve could cause a serious environmental disaster, environmental groups and investigators warned.

Satellite imagery verified by AFP showed what appeared to be an oil slick spreading from a ship stranded for more than a month near al-Qibliyyah island, off Oman’s southern coast. The site is far from the Strait of Hormuz.

Greenpeace said the oil sheen had expanded from up to 20 square kilometres on July 24 to an estimated 600 square kilometres on August 4, based on satellite imagery it reviewed. Wim Zwijnenburg of the Dutch peace organisation PAX gave the same August 4 estimate.

Nina Noelle of Greenpeace said oil appeared to be continuing to leak and warned of “severe and long-lasting” consequences. Zwijnenburg said a complete break-up of the ship could affect Omani fishing communities as well as marine and island biodiversity.

The ship believed to be leaking is the Caroline Bezengi. Kpler data showed it loaded one million barrels of crude oil at the Russian Black Sea terminal of Sheskharis on May 11 and still had the cargo when its last signal was recorded a month later.

Maritime security firm Vanguard Tech told AFP that three explosions rocked the ship on June 6, flooding several areas and disabling its main engine and steering gear. Vanguard said the crew was accounted for. The cause of the explosions is not clear, and it is not clear whether the ship was attacked.

The International Maritime Organization told AFP it was offering assistance to Oman. Oman established a marine reserve last year around the al-Hallaniyat islands, including al-Qibliyyah, an area described in the supplied report as home to coral reefs, seagrass meadows, rare sea turtles, migratory seabirds and the Arabian Sea humpback whale.