Environmental disaster looms as tanker leaks off Oman

AFP | Dubai

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Oman is facing an impending environmental catastrophe as an alleged Russian shadow fleet tanker leaks oil across hundreds of square kilometres near a nature reserve, NGOs warn.

It is far from the Strait of Hormuz, which has seen regular tanker attacks in the Middle East war.

"With oil apparently continuing to leak and the vessel stranded in a difficult location, the risk of an even larger environmental disaster remains serious," Nina Noelle of Greenpeace said.

She warned of a "severe and long-lasting" consequence.

Greenpeace said the oil sheen had expanded from up to 20 square kilometres on July 24 to an estimated 600 on August 4, according to satellite imagery it reviewed.

Environmental open-source investigator Wim Zwijnenburg, from Dutch peace organisation PAX, gave the same estimate for the August 4 sheen.

Kpler data showed that the Caroline Bezengi, which is believed to be the ship leaking off Oman, loaded one million barrels of crude oil at the Russian Black Sea terminal of Sheskharis on May 11.

It still had the oil when its last signal was recorded a month later.

Large stretches of the island's shoreline appear affected and "additional oil slicks extend far out to sea, further polluting and damaging this protected marine ecosystem", Noelle said.

Zwijnenburg added that "a complete break of the ship can cause a regional environmental catastrophe, affecting both the lives of Omani fishing communities and the wider marine and island biodiversity".

Last year, Oman established a marine reserve around the al-Hallaniyat islands, which include al-Qibliyyah and are home to diverse marine life including rare sea turtles.