A huge oil spill from a tanker carrying about 800,000 barrels of Russian oil has begun reaching the coast of Oman and has already covered more than 2,000 square kilometers. Reuters reports, writes UNN.
Details
The tanker "Carolina Besengi" ran aground off the coast of Oman on June 30. According to Reuters, the vessel is under international sanctions and does not have insurance from a recognized Western insurer.
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Oman's Environment Authority reported that the oil could reach the coast approximately 40 kilometers from Ras Madrakah, as well as Masirah Island. The area is part of a marine nature reserve inhabited by Arabian Sea humpback whales and Socotra cormorants.
The spill is rapidly expanding
According to oil-spill expert John Amos, the area of the slick has already exceeded 2,000 square kilometers. He warned that, due to damage to the tanker, its entire cargo could potentially enter the water.
The terrible scenario is that there is no adequate response to prevent the worst
According to Greenpeace, at the end of July the slick covered about 45 square kilometers, at the beginning of August it grew to 150, and by August 4-5 it had reached approximately 600 square kilometers.
The United Nations International Maritime Organization said that monsoon conditions had complicated access to the tanker and delayed salvage operations. The organization reported that an oil-spill response plan had already been developed.
Meanwhile, the IOPC Fund, which deals with compensation for oil-tanker spills, said it would not cover cleanup costs because the incident is being treated as the result of "military action." Experts warn that without stabilizing the vessel and pumping out the remaining oil, the situation could quickly worsen.