Caroline Bezengi Oil Leaks Off Oman Have Been Halted

The salvage operation to recover the Aframax tanker Caroline Bezengi (IMO 9224439) and its remaining cargo appears to have achieved its first major success. Even the slight traces of oil that were leaking from the wreck last week appear to have disappeared, on the basis of analysis of satellite imagery covering the scene on October 26.

The Cameroon-flagged Caroline Bezengi remains firmly stuck on the rocks off the southwest tip of Jazirat Al Qibliyyah, having been hit while off the coast of Yemen on June 8 by what is believed to have been a limpet mine attack. The tanker is sanctioned by the EU, the UK, and the US (OFAC), and has had a past association with Russian state shipowner Sovcomflot.

The Russian permanent representative to the IMO in London has said that it is “pointless” to speculate on the categorization of the Caroline Bezengi as a Russian dark fleet vessel, referencing the registration details of the vessel, which indicate that it has all the hallmarks of a Russian dark fleet vessel.

This story was originally published by The Maritime Executive. Read the full story at The Maritime Executive →