Satellite imagery reviewed by environmental groups shows an oil spill from the grounded, U.K.‑sanctioned Suezmax tanker Caroline Bezengi has expanded to about 150 sq km off Oman's Dhofar coast. Experts report a sheen roughly 90 km long and thicker oil patches reaching Qibliyah Island within a protected marine reserve. The tanker, grounded since June and estimated to be carrying over 800,000 barrels, is subject to international sanctions; Oman ordered the vessel and cargo removed by July 23. Cause of the escalation and compliance with removal orders remain unclear.
Satellite Images Show Oil Spill From Grounded, UK‑Sanctioned Tanker Near Oman Has Sharply Expanded
This satellite image released by European Space Agency shows oil leaking from a grounded U.K.-sanctioned tanker near Qibliyah Island off the coast of Oman, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (European Space Agency via AP)(European Space Agency via AP)
Satellite imagery and environmental groups say an oil leak from the Suezmax tanker Caroline Bezengi, grounded off Oman's Dhofar coast, has expanded sharply — reaching shorelines and stretching far out to sea.
What The Images Show
Greenpeace Germany reported that satellite pictures taken on Sunday indicate the spill now covers an estimated 150 square kilometers (58 sq mi), a dramatic rise from roughly 20 square kilometers (8 sq mi) a week earlier. Experts described a long oil sheen extending northeast from the 274‑meter (899‑foot) tanker and said thicker, black patches have reached the southern and western shores of Qibliyah Island.
Expert Observations
Wim Zwijnenburg of PAX said the visible sheen is a thin layer of oil that can evaporate depending on crude type and weather, but noted that substantial, persistent patches have already made landfall. He estimated the sheen to be roughly 90 kilometers (56 miles) long and said the tanker was likely carrying more than 800,000 barrels of crude.
This satellite image released by European Space Agency shows oil leaking from a grounded U.K.-sanctioned tanker near Qibliyah Island off the coast of Oman, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026. (European Space Agency via AP)(European Space Agency via AP)
"Compared to satellite images from a week earlier, it is a drastic increase," said Nina Noelle of Greenpeace Germany, describing a clearly large and continuing leak.
Environmental and Regulatory Context
The affected waters are part of an Arabian Sea marine reserve that hosts sensitive wildlife, including endangered petrels and the rare Arabian Sea humpback whale. SynMax Maritime published imagery indicating the Caroline Bezengi had previously been at Novorossiysk in the Black Sea in May.
The Cameroon‑flagged tanker is sanctioned by the U.K., which said the vessel "has been or is likely to be involved in activity whose object or effect is to destabilize Ukraine" or to support the Russian government. The ship is also sanctioned by the European Union, Canada and Switzerland.
Unresolved Questions and Local Orders
The tanker has been grounded since June; two shipping outlets reported the crew had reported an explosion at the time, though that account could not be independently verified. Oman's Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology ordered the ship's owners to remove the vessel and its cargo by July 23. It was not publicly clear whether the owners have complied.
What This Means
Authorities and environmental groups warn the expanding spill presents a continuing ecological threat to a protected marine area. Cleanup prospects, the eventual cause of the increased leakage, and liability remain uncertain as investigations and response efforts continue.
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