Omani authorities confirm ongoing efforts to deal with a stranded oil tanker to mitigate its environmental risks
Muscat, Aug 10 (KUNA) – Omani authorities confirmed on Monday that they are continuing efforts to manage the incident involving the oil tanker Caroline Bessenge, which ran aground in the Arabian Sea off the Hallaniyat Islands within the Dhofar Governorate, in order to mitigate any potential environmental impacts or risks.
In a statement, the Environment Authority and the Ministry of Transport and Communications, along with the Ministry of Transport and Communications, emphasized that they are coordinating with relevant authorities to ensure technical remediation of the spill, secure the vessel, and conduct continuous environmental monitoring and assessment to minimize the risks of the incident, protect the marine environment, and ensure navigational safety.
For its part, the Environment Authority clarified that the latest monitoring and technical analysis operations showed the continued presence of oil pollution in the marine area associated with the incident. A slick covering approximately 390 square kilometers was detected, extending northeast of the Hallaniyat Islands toward the mainland coast, with its closest point reaching a distance of about seven kilometers from the shore.
The authority noted that monitoring and satellite image analysis indicated the slick is continuing to move along a similar trajectory, with an observed extension of about 449 kilometers along the path. It added that the slick is generally moving northeast, with projections indicating it could advance by approximately 121 kilometers over the next 48 hours, depending on prevailing marine and weather conditions.
It stressed that the observed slick area of approximately 390 square kilometers “does not represent the quantity of spilled oil, but rather the geographical area where pollution was detected according to the latest monitoring and analysis.”
The authority emphasized that protecting biodiversity, marine habitats, and environmentally sensitive areas represents a “primary priority” in handling the incident, with efforts focused on identifying areas most vulnerable to impact, such as coral reefs and turtle nesting sites.
Meanwhile, Environment Authority Chairman Dr. Abdullah Al-Amri affirmed that monitoring, observation, and environmental assessment results accurately and reliably show “no concern at all” for vital facilities, including water desalination plants, aquaculture projects, and economic and tourism systems located on the coasts, as seawater is continuously tested by specialized technical teams from the Environment Authority.
Al-Amri reassured the public that “there are no slicks or impacts threatening public safety,” pointing out that clear emergency plans have been activated to address all scenarios, ensuring protection against any potential impacts. Specialized aircraft are currently monitoring oil slicks and tracking their movement daily in specific areas.
For its part, the Omani Ministry of Transport stated that work is underway in cooperation with all specialized technical teams from various national authorities, utilizing a specialized company to conduct technical inspections and continuous assessment of the ship’s hull condition and damages, identify spill sources, and implement appropriate technical solutions, including the safe transfer of the oil cargo.
On his part, Director General of Maritime Affairs at the Ministry of Transport, Mohammed Al-Rouahi, said that the difficult weather conditions of the autumn season in the region have made technical operations to address the spill on the ship more challenging.
He added that ongoing operations include aerial surveillance, marine diving, continuous field monitoring, and the development of technical solutions to safely transfer the ship’s oil cargo off-site, aiming to mitigate the risks associated with the incident, ensure navigational safety, and protect the marine environment.
Over the past period, various locations along the Sultanate of Oman’s coastline witnessed attacks on ships and oil tankers as a result of regional events. During this time, the Omani Maritime Security Center, in coordination with other competent authorities, has been providing assistance, rescuing crews, and supplying emergency needs. (End) M.J.B / N.S.A
