Grounded Dark-Fleet Tanker Threatens Oman's Dhofar Coast

A Deteriorating Wreck in a Protected Marine Zone

Oman is confronting a potential large-scale oil spill after the tanker Caroline Bezengi (IMO 9224439) ran aground on rocks off Jazirat Al Qibliyyah, part of the Hallaniyat Islands near the Dhofar coast. According to a report by The Maritime Executive, the 274-meter, 159,168 dwt Suezmax — built in 2001 and now flagged, apparently falsely, to Cameroon — is showing signs of structural breakup as it sits exposed to seasonal monsoon swells.

The vessel’s crew reported an explosion on board on June 8 while transiting off Dhofar, with footage reviewed by Reuters reportedly showing signs of leakage shortly afterward. The crew appears to have abandoned ship roughly three days later, though their current whereabouts have not been disclosed. Officers who left the vessel have since been helping Omani authorities assess its condition.

Sanctions, a Shadow Fleet, and a Missing Owner

The Caroline Bezengi is identified as part of Russia’s so-called dark fleet and is under sanctions from the EU, UK, and US (OFAC), with a documented past link to Russian state carrier Sovcomflot. It had loaded cargo at Novorossiysk and was bound for India when the incident occurred. The ship was among the vessels recently expelled from the Cameroon registry as part of a wider crackdown on sanctioned tankers, meaning its current flag status is effectively void.

Complicating the response, the vessel’s listed owner and manager, Rentoor Shipmanagement of Shanghai, has reportedly not responded to Omani authorities — a response that would normally be required before salvage operations could formally begin.

On-Site Findings Point to Worsening Damage

An onboard inspection carried out by Omani maritime authorities on July 12 found significantly more deterioration than an aerial survey conducted the week before. The tanker was found to be fully loaded except for a single tank, which was the only compartment not breached; the rest showed seawater intrusion. The vessel is reportedly settling deeper and listing further, and crude oil has begun leaking into ballast spaces and the double-hull void — creating a risk of explosive vapor buildup.

The ship’s position adds further danger: it is pinned on rocks at the bow, with more rocks along the port side that could catch the hull if it shifts, and additional exposed rocks roughly 500 yards astern.

A Salvage Plan on Hold

Omani authorities have brought in an independent salvage specialist to evaluate the wreck, confirming its precarious and worsening state. That assessment reportedly outlined a workable option: pumping cargo off the Caroline Bezengi through roughly 1,000 yards of pipeline to a receiving tanker anchored in calmer waters in the island’s lee, then attempting to refloat the vessel as it is lightened. However, the plan carries real risk of onboard explosion or further hull failure during the operation.

No decision has reportedly been made, with the process apparently held up by the legal uncertainty around ownership and liability. Absent swift action, the report suggests the tanker will likely break apart and spill its cargo, threatening the Hallaniyat Islands Marine Buffer Zone — a normally access-restricted habitat for endangered humpback whales, seabirds, and turtles — as well as long stretches of the Dhofar coastline.

What This Means for Owners and Charterers

This case illustrates a growing operational hazard tied to the shadow fleet: aging, sanctioned tankers with opaque ownership structures and unresponsive managers can leave coastal states with no clear legal counterpart to authorize emergency salvage, even as a vessel actively deteriorates. For legitimate owners, managers, and charterers, it underscores the value of rigorous, independent condition surveys and clear chain-of-command documentation well before a vessel nears end-of-life trading. When ownership records are unreliable and flag registration is contested, as appears to be the case here, response timelines stretch out precisely when speed matters most — a lesson relevant to any operator navigating aging tonnage, ambiguous flag status, or complex charter arrangements in high-risk trading patterns.

Reviewed by Ibrahim Halil Ceylan, Marine Surveyor at Apeks Marine.