British firm starts containment of oil spill from stricken tanker off Oman

A British company says it has been hired to salvage a grounded Russian shadow fleet tanker off Oman’s coast and stop an oil spill that is threatening wildlife as it reaches the country’s shoreline following its dramatic spread in recent weeks.

Satellite images show that oil from the tanker Caroline Bezengi has exponentially spread over hundreds of square kilometers during stormy weather, endangering a marine protected area. The region’s “Khareef” monsoon season peaks in July and August.

Ambrey, a UK-based maritime risk and response company, says its personnel boarded the vessel with help from the Omani air force to assess its condition before stabilizing it.

The vessel has been grounded off Qabiliyah Island in southwestern Oman following an explosion of unclear cause in early June. Its cargo has previously been estimated at more than 800,000 barrels.

Satellite images have shown that the tanker is increasingly submerged, and experts have warned of an unprecedented environmental disaster if the vessel sinks or breaks open and leaks its entire cargo.

“This is an extremely challenging situation, compounded by adverse weather conditions associated with the Khareef monsoon,” Ambrey’s global response director Ed Wollaston says in a statement. The company does not immediately have any estimates of how long the salvage operation would take or cost.

Oman’s Environment Authority said yesterday the oil spill has reached the shores of Ras Madrakah, more than 200 kilometers (120 miles) north of Qabiliyah Island. Authorities say they estimate the spill could reach more than 100 kilometers (60 miles) further north, to Masirah Island.