A major salvage operation has begun for the Caroline Bezengi, a 2001-built Suezmax crude oil tanker that ran aground near Oman’s Hallaniyat Islands on June 30, 2026, after experiencing serious damage while sailing through the region.
The vessel, IMO 9224439, is about 274 metres long, 48 metres wide and 81,085 GT, with a deadweight capacity of roughly 159,000 tonnes. Public AIS tracking recorded the tanker’s last transmission around June 11 off Yemen, after which its position was no longer publicly visible through AIS tracking. MarineTraffic imagery has subsequently been used to document the vessel’s condition.
The tanker had loaded Russian crude at Novorossiysk and was reportedly carrying around 800,000 barrels when it later grounded off Oman. Reuters reported that the vessel first experienced difficulties off Yemen on June 8 following what maritime sources described as a possible blast. The exact cause has not been established.
Impact
The grounding has developed into a significant oil-spill response after crude began leaking from the tanker and the slick expanded towards the Omani coastline.
The vessel grounded close to an Omani marine nature reserve, creating an environmental risk to sensitive marine habitats. Omani authorities have advised fishermen to avoid the affected area while monitoring potential impacts on marine life and fish products.
The salvage response is being coordinated by Ambrey, which has mobilised salvage vessels, aircraft, specialist personnel and more than 100 tonnes of equipment. An international oil-spill response company has also been contracted to support containment and mitigation work.
Further details
Ambrey personnel have already boarded the Caroline Bezengi with support from the Royal Air Force of Oman to assess the vessel and begin cargo and vessel stabilisation.
The operation is being conducted during Oman’s Khareef monsoon season, when adverse weather and sea conditions can affect vessel stability, offshore access and the movement of salvage equipment. Ambrey said these conditions are adding to the complexity of the response.
The tanker is linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet and has been subject to international sanctions over its involvement in Russian oil transportation. Its voyage had taken it from Novorossiysk through the Mediterranean and Suez Canal before entering the Arabian Sea and continuing towards India.
The immediate priority is to stabilise the tanker and limit further oil release. The scale of the response will depend on weather conditions, the vessel’s structural condition and the ability of salvage teams to control the remaining cargo.
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