Oil Spill From Sanctioned Tanker Is Growing Fast

An oil spill caused by leakage from a UK-sanctioned tanker grounded for weeks off Oman appears to be expanding dramatically, reaching shorelines and far out to sea, according to experts and satellite images reviewed by the AP. Greenpeace Germany said in a statement Monday that satellite images from a day earlier indicate the oil spill now covers an estimated 58 square miles, affecting large stretches of Qibliyah Island off Dhofar, Oman's largest governorate.

• Compared to satellite images from a week earlier, "it is a drastic increase," said Nina Noelle of Greenpeace Germany, who noted that clearly a large amount of crude oil is leaking. Last week, the spill's surface area was estimated at 8 square miles. It was not clear what has caused the leak to grow.
• The "dramatic expansion" of the spill "underscores the serious and continuing environmental threat posed by the stranded tanker—and exemplifies the dangers associated with the practices of Russia's shadow fleet," Greenpeace Germany said.

The images from Sunday showed an oil sheen spreading to the northeast from the 899-foot Suezmax tanker Caroline Bezengi, which is sanctioned by the UK for carrying oil that originates from Russia. The affected area is part of the Arabian Sea reserve, a marine protected area and host to wildlife including endangered petrels and the rare Arabian Sea humpback whale. Wim Zwijnenburg, an environmental expert for PAX, a Dutch organization that focuses on conflict and the environment, said the sheen is a thin layer of oil that often evaporates depending on the type of crude oil and weather conditions. Thick black patches of oil reached the southern and western shores of the island, he added.

• Zwijnenburg said the oil sheen appears to be roughly 56 miles, nearly double its length a week ago. He estimated that the tanker had been carrying over 800,000 barrels of crude oil.
• The tanker has been grounded since June, according to two shipping and maritime news outlets. According to the outlets, the crew reported an explosion on board at the time.
• Russia's shadow fleet often uses aging tankers in poor condition, Reuters reports. It's not clear whether the blast was caused by a possible Ukrainian attack or by the Middle East conflict. It's also not clear where the ship had been going when it grounded off Oman.

• The UK government said in its decision to sanction the vessel that it "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 Cameroon-flagged tanker is also sanctioned by the European Union, Canada, and Switzerland. SynMax Maritime, a geospatial data tracking company, said it obtained images in May showing the tanker at the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk in Russia before its most recent voyage.
• John Amos, CEO of the environmental nonprofit SkyTruth, said the obscured outline of the ship indicates the tanker may be sinking deeper into the water. The ship is grounded on a rocky coastline and taking the full force of strong winds and waves.
• Amos hasn't seen signs of any vessel activity near the tanker that would indicate a response to the spill. "Here we have a potential environmental disaster that nobody seems to care about in the middle of a so-called marine protected area," Amos said. "Somebody has a financial interest in this. And where are they?"