Regulation & Inspection
Calmer Seas Aid Salvage of Sanctioned Tanker off Oman
As of 8 October the tanker Caroline Bezengi (IMO 9224439) remained on the rocks in Oman's Hallaniyat Islands and was still leaking oil; salvage is under way, but no cargo offload had begun.
Updated 21 October 2026: this article, first published on 17 October, has been revised for accuracy. It now separates what had happened by 8 October from what had not, and it identifies the vessel by name, IMO number and size.
Still on the Rocks, Still Leaking
The tanker Caroline Bezengi (IMO 9224439) remained aground off the southwest tip of Jazirat Al Qibliyyah, in Oman’s Hallaniyat Islands, as of 8 October, according to The Maritime Executive. The ship is of about 159,000 dwt, The Maritime Executive reported in July. Oil was still leaking from the wreck: a sheen continued to drift northeast and, in calmer weather, also appeared to be spreading southeast.
The ship was disabled by an explosion on 8 June after transiting the Suez Canal. Its crew was taken off without injury about four days later, and the drifting tanker went aground on the rocks at the end of June. The cause of the explosion has not been established by any official investigation. Oil from the wreck reached the Omani coastline during the summer.
Salvage Under Way Since Late September
Photographs published by The Maritime Executive on 23 September showed a salvage operation under way at the wreck, with salvors working on the tanker’s inclined deck and equipment being transferred from the offshore vessel EDT Kennedy. On 8 October EDT Kennedy and three other vessels were again seen near the wreck in satellite imagery and AIS data.
What has not happened yet matters as much. As of 8 October there was no sign of a cargo offload operation in progress. Reports at the time described moving a small tanker into the lee of the island to begin offloading as a possible next step, made easier by the end of the monsoon season — wind on 8 October was reported at around 11 knots, with swells under one metre. No formal progress update has been published by the parties involved.
Why It Matters
While oil remains on board, the wreck is an active pollution source on a remote stretch of Oman’s coast. The next verifiable milestone is a visible transfer of oil from the wreck to a receiving vessel. Until that happens, the spill should be treated as ongoing.
Source: Maritime Executive