Oil spill from shadow fleet tanker spreading off Oman, satellite images show

BEIRUT/LONDON, July 31 (Reuters) — A sanctions-hit tanker is leaking oil off the coast of Oman and the spill has spread in recent days, raising concern about possible environmental damage to coastal areas. The Caroline Bezengi took Russian oil on board at the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. The vessel first reported difficulties on June 8 off the southern Yemeni port of Mukalla, two maritime security sources said, adding that initial assessments indicated that a blast occurred onboard. It is not clear whether the blast resulted from a possible Ukrainian attack on Russian-related tankers or from the Middle East conflict. Wim Zwijnenburg, a remote-sensing specialist for the Dutch peace organization PAX, said the darker oil slicks indicate that at least one of the hulls of the crude oil storage ship seems now to be breached. An International Maritime Organization spokesperson said at present the vessel is not broken up. The vessel is subject to EU and UK sanctions for alleged involvement in carrying Russian fuels. The listed owner, Shanghai-based Rentoor Shipmanagement, could not be reached. An oil tanker specialist said the vessel was likely listing; other maritime sources warned it could break up.