Salvage Underway at Caroline Bezengi Wreck Off Oman

Salvage Operation Progresses at Oman Wreck Site

According to an exclusive report by the Maritime Executive, salvage work has begun in earnest at the wreck site of the tanker Caroline Bezengi, which remains grounded on rocks off Jazirat Al Qibliyyah, the easternmost of Oman’s Hallaniyat Islands. Photographs obtained by the publication show crews actively working the casualty, marking a shift from the weeks of weather-driven delay that had characterized the response so far.

Weather Window Opens After Khareef Season

The onset of the operation coincides with a lull in the seasonal Khareef winds and swell that batter Oman’s Dhofar coast during the summer months. Satellite imagery reportedly showed no vessels near the wreck in recent weeks, but the calmer conditions have now allowed responders to mobilize equipment and personnel directly onto the tanker’s deck, despite its pronounced list to starboard and the fact that salvors are having to work while being washed by waves.

Vessels and Equipment Involved

Two vessels have been identified as central to the effort: the multi-purpose offshore vessel EDT Kennedy, operated by Cyprus-based EDT Offshore, and the offshore supply tug Astro Sculptor, linked to Omani firm Mola Marine Services. Imagery shows pump machinery being airlifted by helicopter from the EDT Kennedy onto the exposed stern of the Caroline Bezengi, along with heavy-gauge rubber hose being floated across between the two vessels. This is consistent with a previously reported plan to run a roughly 1,000-meter pipeline to a receiving tanker anchored in a sheltered lee on the island’s northwestern side, although no such receiving tanker has yet been spotted on scene.

In the near term, the priority for salvors appears to be internal transfer of oil between tanks aboard the casualty itself, a measure intended to stabilize the hull, reduce strain, and prevent the list from worsening before any ship-to-ship transfer begins.

Air and Shore Support

An NH90 helicopter from the Royal Air Force of Oman has been assisting with lifting pump equipment onto the wreck, with a possible second civilian helicopter also involved. While early planning had considered basing operations from the small airfield on the main Hallaniyat Island, roughly 25 nautical miles west of the wreck, vessel movements now suggest the mainland port of Duqm has become the principal shore base for logistics.

Signs of Reduced Leakage

Satellite passes over the site, including Sentinel-2A imagery from September 21, indicate that the oil sheen trailing from the Caroline Bezengi has diminished over the past week, suggesting the previously breached tanks are now discharging oil more slowly. Forecasts for the coming days show average wind speeds unlikely to exceed 20 knots, a marked improvement on conditions during the past month, though officials caution that late-season squalls could still disrupt progress.

What It Means for Owners and Managers

This incident is a useful case study for owners, managers, and charterers in how a grounding response unfolds once immediate weather constraints ease. The sequencing on show — internal tank transfers to stabilize the hull before any ship-to-ship offload begins — reflects standard salvage doctrine, but it also underscores how heavily outcomes depend on sea state and the availability of specialized lift and pumping assets on short notice. For technical superintendents, the episode is a reminder that structural and stability assessments of a grounded hull, ideally informed by condition survey data and tank configuration records, are what determine whether a vessel can be safely worked on before pollution risk escalates further. It also highlights the value of pre-incident readiness: knowing hull condition, tank arrangement, and cargo distribution in detail before an emergency can materially speed up a salvor’s decision-making once weather finally cooperates.

The operation is described as ongoing, with the Omani Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology’s cautious, phased approach — and the coordination between offshore support vessels, tugs, and air assets — credited so far with preventing a worse outcome at the site.

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