A Russian “shadow fleet” tanker that is under sanctions and reported an explosion in early June appears to have spilled a substantial quantity of oil off the coast of Oman, likely polluting an environmentally sensitive area.
According to Reuters, the Caroline Bezengi vessel took Russian oil on board in Novorossiysk before leaving for its most recent voyage bound for India, according to ship tracking data.
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It last transmitted a signal on public AIS tracking on June 11 off the coast of Yemen.
Satellite imagery from Copernicus Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 via U.S. News confirms the ship is leaking oil and breaking up, contaminating waters in a marine preserve in a bay southwest of Al-Qibliyah island.
The Ship Is Aground And Breaking Up
MaritimeExecutive.com reported that Oman is facing an environmental catastrophe as the Caroline Bezengi has begun to break up while it is stranded on rocks after it ran aground on the southwest tip of Jazirat Al Qibliyyah, one of the Hallaniyat Islands off the coast of Dhofar in the southwest of Oman.
It has been reported that Omani maritime authorities conducted an onboard survey of the ship on July 12 and noted considerable deterioration.
All of the oil tanks, except for one, are fully loaded, with those showing signs of seawater contamination. The tanker’s list is increasing as it sinks deeper into the water.
Omani officials are most concerned with crude oil leakage in the ballast and the spacing between the double hulls, which could make fumes explosive.
They have considered running a pipeline 1,000 feet to an empty tanker, further leeward to lighten the ship to get it off the rocks, and then trying to salvage the ship.
Shipping databases list the vessel’s owner as the Shanghai-based company Rentoor Shipmanagement; however, Omani authorities need permission from the owners to commence recovery operations, and the company has not responded to repeated communication requests.
On June 8, while transiting off the southern coast of Oman, her crew broadcast a VHF call and reported that they had experienced a suspected bomb attack.
It last transmitted a signal on public AIS tracking on June 11 off the coast of Yemen and has not been revived since.
A Potential Pollution Disaster Is Unfolding
Omani authorities are very concerned that the ship will continue to list, and then break up on the rocks, spilling its oil and creating an environmental disaster.
The Hallaniyat Islands Marine Buffer Zone normally has strictly controlled access so as to preserve endangered humpback whale, seabird, and turtle populations.
The contamination would also likely contaminate large stretches of the Dhofar coastline.
The Caroline Bezengi Has Been Sanctioned
The EU and the UK previously sanctioned the Caroline Bezengi for its involvement in transporting Russian oil.
Russia increasingly relies on poorly maintained, older tankers – collectively known as the “shadow fleet” to sustain its petroleum exports amid international restrictions.
The satellite footage taken of the ship appears to show an oil slick accumulating on the southern side of Al-Qibliyah island, which was confirmed by three separate experts in remote sensing and pollution assessment.
Russia’s“Shadow Fleet” In The Sea Of Azov Has Been Heavily Hit
Ukraine has been heavily targeting Russia’s “shadow fleet” to limit Russia’s fuel supplies to Moscow’s illegally occupied Crimea in the past several weeks.
In just the past weekend, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces hit four Russian shadow fleet vessels in the Black Sea and 13 electrical substations in occupied Crimea and other occupied territories late Saturday night and into early Sunday morning.
Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) followed that attack with attacks on seven Russian shadow fleet vessels, seven energy facilities in the occupied territories, six Russian air defense assets and two logistics facilities on the night of 19-20 July.
Robert “Magyar” Brovdi, Commander of Ukraine’s USF, posted, “CRIMEA STOP: Seven shadow fleet vessels, seven substations in Crimea and the TOT (temporarily occupied territories), six air defense units in Russia and two hellishly wild berries 2.0 (logistics facilities). The night of 19-20 July – all were dealt with.”
Brovdi added, “USF Operation Air Defense Downfall: six air defense elements destroyed in Yeisk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Kamyshevatskaya, all in Russia: one Tor-M2 surface-to-air missile system, two Nebo-SV radar systems, one Nebo-U, one Kasta 2E2 and one Gamma S1M.”
Brovdi claimed that Ukrainian drone attacks had struck 183 vessels between July 1 and 20, including 119 in the Sea of Azov and 64 in the Black Sea.
Brovdi said that the continued Ukrainian drone attacks have reduced the Kerch Ferry capacity by 75 percent.
Three out of the five ferries have been destroyed, and the remaining two have lost the ability to move independently and are now operating as barges towed by tugboats.
“The goal is the irreversible paralysis of oil, fuel, and cargo logistics used to bypass sanctions,” Brovdi stated. “We want every self-propelled vessel to become a drifting barge – blind and deaf.
The objective is not to pollute the sea with oil spills, so we are not sinking them.”
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
