Oman is facing a growing environmental emergency after the grounded tanker Caroline Bezengicontinued to deteriorate off the coast of Dhofar, raising concerns about a possible large-scale oil spill. The vessel, which ran aground near the Hallaniyat Islands, has reportedly suffered significant structural damage and is beginning to break apart due to strong monsoon seas. Authorities fear that if the tanker breaks up completely, thousands of tons of crude oil could be released into the surrounding waters.

The 274-meter tanker, built in 2001 with a deadweight of 159,168 tons, was reportedly carrying a full cargo of crude oil after departing Novorossiysk, Russia, and was bound for India. Operating under the name Caroline Bezengi since 2023, the vessel had been displaying a Cameroon flag. However, reports indicate that the registration may no longer have been valid after Cameroon removed several sanctioned vessels from its registry. The tanker has also been linked to Russia's so-called "dark fleet" and has been sanctioned by the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States due to its previous association with Russian state-owned shipping interests.

The crew first reported an onboard explosion on June 8 while the tanker was sailing off the coast of Dhofar. Days later, the crew abandoned the vessel, although their current whereabouts have not been publicly confirmed. Some officers who had been aboard have reportedly remained in contact with Omani authorities to assist in evaluating the ship\'s condition. The vessel is stranded in a particularly dangerous location, surrounded by rocks and exposed to strong southwest monsoon seas, making any rescue or salvage operation extremely difficult.

An onboard inspection conducted by Omani maritime authorities on July 12 found that the tanker had deteriorated significantly compared to aerial observations made just a week earlier. Nearly all of the cargo tanks showed signs of seawater contamination, while crude oil had leaked into ballast tanks and spaces between the ship\'s double hull, creating potentially explosive conditions. The vessel has continued to sink deeper into the water while developing an increasing list, raising fears that it could split apart before emergency operations can begin.

Authorities have reportedly struggled to contact the vessel\'s listed owner and manager, Rentoor Shipmanagement, based in Shanghai, whose approval would normally be required before major salvage work could proceed. Despite these legal challenges, Oman has commissioned an independent salvage assessment. Experts proposed transferring the crude oil through a pipeline approximately 1,000 yards long to another tanker anchored in safer waters before attempting to refloat the vessel. However, the operation carries significant risks, including further structural failure, fire, or explosion while cargo is being removed.

Environmental experts warn that unless salvage operations begin immediately, the Caroline Bezengi could break apart and release its cargo into the sea. Such a spill would threaten the protected Hallaniyat Islands Marine Buffer Zone, an important habitat for endangered Arabian humpback whales, sea turtles, seabirds, and other marine life. Oil contamination could also spread along large sections of Oman\'s Dhofar coastline, causing severe ecological damage and affecting local fisheries and coastal communities. Maritime authorities continue to closely monitor the situation as efforts intensify to prevent one of the region\'s most serious environmental disasters in recent years.