Satellite images show the sanctioned Suezmax tanker Caroline Bezengi leaking crude oil after grounding off Oman's Dhofar coast near the Hallaniyat Islands. The sheen covers about 20 square kilometers (8 square miles), with slicks reaching Qibliyah Island. Experts estimate the vessel may carry over 800,000 barrels and warn that the May–September monsoon heightens the risk of a hull failure and a far larger environmental disaster in this marine protected area.
Sanctioned Suezmax Tanker Leaks Oil Near Oman's Protected Hallaniyat Islands, Satellite Images Show
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows crude oil leaking and spreading from the sanctioned Suezmax tanker Caroline Bezengi grounded at Qibliyah Island, off the coast of Oman, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)(Planet Labs PBC via AP)
Satellite imagery reviewed by The Associated Press indicates crude oil has been leaking from a sanctioned Suezmax tanker that ran aground off Oman's Dhofar coast near the Hallaniyat Islands, threatening a nearby marine protected area.
The most recent image, captured on Friday, shows an oil sheen covering roughly 20 square kilometers (about 8 square miles), with darker patches and slicks visible along the shores of Qibliyah Island.
Leak Pattern and Risk
Environmental specialist Wim Zwijnenburg of PAX said the imagery suggests low but persistent seepage over the past week, with the sheen growing in recent days. He estimated the vessel may be carrying more than 800,000 barrels of crude. Zwijnenburg warned the main danger is the ship breaking apart as the windy monsoon season from May to September brings rough seas and strong winds that can stress the hull.
Images from July 28 showed most of the oil concentrated in the bay northwest of the grounded vessel, with a thin film wrapping around parts of the coast.
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows crude oil leaking and spreading from the sanctioned Suezmax tanker Caroline Bezengi grounded off the coast of Oman, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)(Planet Labs PBC via AP)
Vessel Details and Sanctions
The 274-meter (899-foot) Suezmax tanker Caroline Bezengi, Cameroon-flagged, is sanctioned by the U.K., the European Union, Canada and Switzerland. U.K. sanctions cite the vessel for carrying oil that originated in Russia and for activity that "has been or is likely to be involved in activity whose object or effect is to destabilize Ukraine." SynMax Maritime reported images from May placing the ship at the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk before its latest voyage.
Grounding, Explosion Reports and Official Orders
Shipping and maritime news outlets say the tanker has been stranded off the Dhofar coast since June and that the crew reported an explosion aboard when it grounded; AP was unable to independently confirm the explosion reports. Oman's Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology ordered the vessel's owners to remove the ship and its cargo by July 23, but it was not clear whether the owners had complied or responded.
Nina Noelle of Greenpeace Germany warned the Caroline Bezengi incident is an alarming example of the environmental risks posed by what she called a "shadow fleet," adding that by July 24 stretches of coastline and sensitive marine habitat were already polluted and damaged.
Environmental Concerns
The grounding and leak threaten the Arabian Sea reserve, a marine protected area that supports unique marine mammals and birdlife, including endangered petrels. Local NGOs and international observers have expressed concern that continued leakage or a hull break-up could trigger a much larger spill with long-term damage to coastlines and ecosystems.
Next Steps
Salvage, containment and cleanup capacity will be critical if leaks continue or the tanker breaks apart. Omani authorities and environmental organizations are monitoring the site while the cause of the grounding and the reported explosion remains under investigation.
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