Muscat: Omani authorities announced ongoing efforts to manage the grounding of the oil tanker Caroline Bezengi in the country's territorial waters near the Hallaniyat Islands, located in the Dhofar Governorate. The focus is on reducing risks associated with the incident, safeguarding the marine environment, and ensuring safe navigation.

According to Qatar News Agency, the Omani Environment Authority is actively monitoring the situation using an integrated environmental monitoring, surveillance, and assessment system. This system is crucial in tracking environmental conditions, observing the movement and spread of oil pollution, and identifying critical areas for response and protection.

The Authority reported that its recent monitoring and technical analysis confirmed the presence of oil pollution in the affected marine area. An oil slick, covering approximately 390 square kilometers, was detected northeast of the Hallaniyat Islands and is extending toward the mainland coast. The slick is about 7 kilometers from the shore at its closest point.

Furthermore, satellite imagery and other monitoring data indicate that the slick continues to follow a similar path, with its observed extent reaching approximately 449 kilometers. This ongoing movement necessitates continuous observation and response efforts.

In parallel, Oman's Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology is conducting technical inspections to evaluate the condition of the ship's hull, assess the damage it sustained, and identify the sources of the leak. This is part of a broader effort to address maritime safety concerns.

Several ships and oil tankers have recently been targeted along the Omani coastline due to regional developments, highlighting the importance of these ongoing efforts to mitigate environmental risks and ensure maritime safety.