International Salvage Operations Underway for Stricken Oil Tanker Leaking Off Oman

A salvage operation is currently underway to stabilise the stricken tanker at the center of a major oil spill off the coast of Oman, according to the risk management company coordinating the effort. The announcement by Ambrey on Thursday followed confirmation by Oman’s environmental authority that oil from the Caroline Bezengi had reached beaches along the sultanate’s central coast.

The vessel, suspected to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet used for transporting sanctioned Russian oil, has been leaking crude into waters near the Hallaniyat archipelago since June. The leak began after the ship’s crew reported an unidentified explosion.

Ambrey stated it is collaborating with Omani authorities as part of a significant international response that includes salvage vessels, aircraft, and specialist personnel. While the effort involves Oman and an unnamed leading international oil spill response company, Ambrey did not specify other participating countries or firms for the vessel, which has previously flown the flags of Cameroon, Palau, and Liberia.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced it is closely monitoring the situation and will continue supporting ongoing efforts. Meanwhile, the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds stated they will not participate in the cleanup after concluding that the incident likely stemmed from an act of war.

Ambrey expects salvage vessels to reach the Caroline Bezengi soon, with specialist personnel already aboard to stabilise the cargo. Ed Wollaston, director of global response at Ambrey, noted that adverse weather from the annual Khareef monsoon has complicated the extremely challenging situation. Despite this, experts and supporting equipment have been fully deployed to mitigate the environmental impact.

Satellite imagery analyses indicate that the spill has expanded dramatically over the past week, sparking fears for local coastlines and ecosystems, including a marine reserve established near the Hallaniyat archipelago. Greenpeace reported that the spill grew from 45 square kilometres in late July to approximately 1,300 square kilometres by Wednesday.

Hanen Keskes, Greenpeace’s head of campaigns for the MENA region, emphasized the complexity of responding to a damaged tanker in a remote location during monsoon season without a clear owner or verified insurer. Najmedin Meshkati, an expert in oil spills and a University of Southern California professor, argued that earlier intervention could have better controlled the source, though he acknowledged the immense difficulties faced by Omani authorities.

Damilola S Olawuyi, a professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, highlighted that geopolitical realignments and complex ownership structures continue to hinder accountability and enforcement of the polluter-pays principle in international maritime law.