Stormy monsoon conditions off Oman are driving an oil slick toward a vulnerable stretch of sea life habitat, deepening fears of long-term environmental harm after a stranded tanker began leaking.
A British salvage firm has been hired to secure the ship and try to contain the spill before it hits more coastline and wildlife.
Recent satellite imagery shows oil spreading across hundreds of square kilometers after the Caroline Bezengi ran aground near Qabiliyah Island following an explosion in early June.
The tanker, believed to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet," was carrying more than 800,000 barrels of oil.
The Associated Press reported that Omani authorities say the slick has already reached Ras Madrakah, more than 200 kilometers north of the island, and could continue another 100-plus kilometers to Masirah Island.
With help from the Omani air force, Ambrey, a U.K.-based maritime risk and response company, said its personnel got aboard the increasingly submerged tanker to assess its condition and begin stabilizing it.
Ambrey global response director Ed Wollaston said, "This is an extremely challenging situation, compounded by adverse weather conditions associated with the Khareef monsoon."
The spill is near Qabiliyah Island, a protected marine area that contains coral reefs, seagrass, endangered turtles, breeding and nesting sites for migratory birds, and the rare Arabian Sea humpback whale.
Greenpeace campaigner Hanen Keskes told the AP that it is "extremely concerning" that the slick has moved from offshore waters to the coastline, where it can seep into sediment and become much harder to clean up.
She also said the area's remoteness leaves response teams with limited infrastructure and tougher logistics.
Coal and natural gas power plants pollute air and water. They can also keep household energy costs high when families remain dependent on fuel sources that require ongoing extraction and are subject to volatile markets, rather than cleaner energy from sunlight and wind.
Industry lobbying has also helped slow the shift to cleaner power, delaying solutions that could better protect communities, reduce pollution, and lower utility bills.
As the spill drifts north, Omani authorities are monitoring its movement while Ambrey works to board, assess, and stabilize the tanker before it breaks apart or releases more oil.
Rough seasonal weather and the vessel's deteriorating condition are hindering that response. Satellite images suggest the ship is sitting lower in the water, increasing fears that a larger rupture could cause an even worse environmental disaster.
The tanker is unflagged, appears to be owned out of Shanghai, and may not be insured.
Those gaps can complicate cleanup and compensation if damage spreads to protected ecosystems.
"Even after the slick has been contained and removed, the environmental impact can last for years," Keskes said. "It can make the cleanup significantly more complex than containment at sea."
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