Overview
- On Thursday specialist teams led by UK firm Ambrey boarded the Caroline Bezengi to assess the hull and begin stabilisation and offloading planning.
- Oil from the grounded, sanctioned tanker has reached Ras Madrakah and could affect about 40 km of Omani coastline and southern Masirah Island, according to Oman’s Environment Authority.
- Estimates of the slick’s size vary widely with Omani officials placing it near 390–400 square kilometres and independent satellite analysts putting it between about 1,300 and over 2,000 square kilometres.
- Response operations face three main obstacles: rough Khareef monsoon seas that limit safe access, unclear ownership and flagging of the vessel, and the IOPC Funds ruling that the incident likely falls under an "act of war" exclusion.
- If the wreck breaks up and loses most of its roughly 800,000 barrels of crude, experts warn long-term damage to the Hallaniyat marine reserve and fisheries could be severe and costly given the current legal and insurance gaps.