The Cameroon-flagged tanker Caroline Bezengi continues to leak oil off Oman, with salvage operations facing significant challenges and ecological risks.
The wreck of the Cameroon-flagged Suezmax tanker Caroline Bezengi, which ran aground on the rocks off the coast of Dhofar in Oman, continues to leak oil. There have been no concrete developments regarding the salvage operation for the tanker, which was heading towards Gujarat after loading crude oil in Novorossiysk.
The Caroline Bezengi, IMO number 9224439, lost control following an explosion that occurred on June 8 off the coast of Oman. The tanker had completed its transit through the Suez Canal on May 30 and had deviated from the Maritime Safety Transit Corridor at the time of the explosion. The crew on board was safely evacuated approximately four days later.
The tanker was subsequently swept onto the rocks at the southwestern tip of Jazirat Al Qibliyyah, located near the Hallaniyat Islands off the southwestern coast of Oman.
The wreck has not yet broken apart.
Despite the Caroline Bezengi tilting further after running aground, it has been reported that there has been no significant change in its position in recent days. Satellite images show that the vessel has not yet seriously broken apart, while the strong winds and waves generated by the Khareef monsoon continue to pose a risk to the wreck.
The bow of the vessel is grounded on the rocks. The rocky outcrops on the port side create a barrier that could hold the wreck in place should the vessel slide. However, it is also noted that there are underwater rocks located approximately 500 yards away from the ship.
The oil spill is moving towards the Northern Arabian Sea.
According to Sentinel-2 satellite images obtained on August 7, the oil spill is primarily moving in a northeastern direction. It is assessed that a large portion of the oil slick is moving towards the Northern Arabian Sea, skimming the coastline between Sharbitat and Ras Madrakah.
This situation may mean that the coastline is protected from a significant oil pollution event for nesting sea turtles in the area. However, the oil spill poses ecological risks in the open sea, which is an important habitat for storm petrels and the rare Arabian Sea humpback whales.
The uncertainty of the salvage operation continues.
It has been reported that experienced ship salvage experts examined the wreck of the Caroline Bezengi on July 12 and prepared a plan to transfer the tanker’s cargo via a pipeline approximately 1000 yards long to a vessel that could anchor in the island's more sheltered waters.
After the tanker’s crude oil cargo is lightened, it may be possible to refloat it. However, it has been stated that crude oil has leaked into the ballast tanks and the compartments between the double hull, which poses a risk of explosion due to hydrocarbon vapors during the salvage operation. Severe weather conditions also increase the likelihood of the wreck breaking apart.
Satellite images dated August 7 also highlight the absence of any salvage or patrol vessels conducting surveillance or preliminary salvage operations around the wreck.
The insurance status of the tanker is a topic of discussion.
The Caroline Bezengi had a past relationship with the Russian state-linked shipowner Sovcomflot. The tanker has also been placed on sanction lists by the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
There has been no indication that the registered owners of the vessel have assumed responsibility for cleanup and salvage under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It is noted that the vessel is linked to Rentoor Ship Management in Shanghai, China, while the company has refrained from making statements regarding its responsibilities.
There are also concerns that the tanker may be inadequately insured. The non-transparent practices of 'shadow fleet' tankers linked to Russia regarding insurance are considered one of the issues hindering the salvage operation.
Additionally, it is mentioned that specialized companies may be hesitant to participate in a salvage operation for a vessel that has been sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
The cause of the explosion has not been confirmed.
There are assessments suggesting that the Caroline Bezengi may have been targeted by a sticky mine that was placed while it was anchored, following its departure from Novorossiysk. It has been suggested that this mine may have been laid by Ukraine, although this claim has not been independently verified.
There has been no response yet to inquiries made to the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology in Muscat, Oman, regarding the current status of the salvage operation.
The ongoing oil leak and the harsh sea conditions brought on by the Khareef season are increasingly posing an environmental risk to the marine ecosystem off the coast of Oman and in the Northern Arabian Sea due to the Caroline Bezengi wreck.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
