Oman Halts Oil Leaks from Stranded Russian-Linked Tanker Caroline Bezengi
Satellite imagery confirms no traces of oil from the sanctioned Aframax tanker off Jazirat Al Qibliyyah.
Salvage teams have successfully stopped oil leaks from the Cameroon-flagged Aframax tanker Caroline Bezengi, which has been stranded off Oman’s Jazirat Al Qibliyyah since June. Satellite imagery analyzed on October 26 shows no visible traces of oil near the wreck, marking a key milestone in the operation.
The Caroline Bezengi (IMO 9224439) ran aground on June 8 after a suspected limpet mine attack near Yemen’s coast. The vessel, impaled on rocks at the southwest tip of Jazirat Al Qibliyyah, is under sanctions by the EU, UK, and U.S. due to its past ties to Russian state shipowner Sovcomflot.
While neither Ambrey, the firm leading the salvage, nor Omani authorities have released official updates, the absence of oil slicks suggests crews have managed to contain the leaks. The Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) airlifted oil pumps to the tanker last month, enabling teams to transfer oil from damaged tanks to intact ones. Current conditions are favorable, with winds at 2.34 m/s and light swells expected to persist for the coming week.
Progress in the salvage effort: Caroline Bezengi
Several vessels are positioned near the wreck, including the Dutch-flagged tug Jif Vanguard (IMO 6688673) and the EDT-operated offshore vessel EDT Kennedy (IMO 9671400). However, no offtake tanker has arrived to remove the remaining cargo, which is now valued at over $100 per barrel. The tanker’s structural damage, likely worsened since its grounding, may prevent it from being refloated, leaving crews with the task of safely extracting the oil before winter swells complicate operations.
The Caroline Bezengi had transited the Suez Canal on May 30, carrying oil loaded at Novorossiysk and bound for Gujarat, India. Its crew was evacuated four days after the attack by another sanctioned vessel, the Aruba-flagged Noble Walker (IMO 9292981), which was also transporting Russian oil to India.
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