Oman steps up oil spill response as rough seas hamper salvage ops

MUSCAT: Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology is continuing rescue and containment operations following the oil spill from the stranded vessel Caroline Bezengi, which remains grounded on a rocky reef near Al Qibliyah Island in the Hallaniyat Islands archipelago in Dhofar Governorate.

The operations are being carried out in cooperation with relevant national authorities and international experts from British maritime security and risk management company Ambrey.

The ministry said the response is being complicated by extremely difficult weather and sea conditions, with wind speeds at times reaching around 40 knots and waves rising to about four metres. These conditions have made approaching the vessel by sea or air highly difficult.

Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rawahi, Director General of Maritime Affairs at the ministry, said efforts had been intensified from the beginning to limit the potential environmental impact of the grounding.

In coordination with Ambrey, specialist companies including international oil spill response firm OSRL and Oman-based BISCO have been engaged to support pollution response operations and the cleaning of affected areas.

The ministry has also coordinated the import and preparation of pollution-control materials and equipment, including rubber containment booms, spill-response equipment and materials, and chemical dispersants. A specialised vessel has also been arranged to transport and operate the equipment at the accident site.

Al Rawahi said these resources would be deployed as soon as weather and sea conditions permit, and in accordance with approved environmental and technical assessments.

He said the Khareef season had created exceptional operational challenges, particularly because of strong winds and high waves, severely restricting the marine work required around the vessel.

The waters surrounding the grounding site are also shallow and rocky, while detailed marine and hydrographic data on depths and safe approach routes remain limited.

This has created additional risks for support vessels that need to operate close to the grounded tanker, prompting the authorities to explore alternative means of accessing the ship and supporting teams working on board.

The technical condition of the vessel itself is another major challenge. According to the ministry, the tanker is grounded on a rocky area and is listing at an angle of about 17 degrees, with water inundating a large part of one side.

Oil and seawater on the deck, combined with high waves and strong winds, have also made some working areas slippery and unsafe. In addition, the vessel currently lacks a reliable operational power source to run equipment required for salvage work.

The ministry said cargo-transfer operations and other heavy work cannot begin until minimum safety requirements are met and working areas aboard the tanker are secured.

Ambrey and other international specialists are working with ministry teams and national authorities to develop phased and realistic salvage plans suited to the unusually difficult condition of the vessel and the surrounding marine environment.

Al Rawahi said the current priority is to establish a safe working environment for technical teams. This includes cleaning and preparing work areas, conducting safety inspections and gas and oxygen measurements, identifying suitable locations for equipment and transporting generators, technical equipment and salvage machinery to the ship.

As transporting some equipment by sea is currently not possible, air support is being used to move experts and equipment onto the vessel. This will allow technical and preparatory work to continue until sea conditions improve sufficiently for support vessels to approach safely.

At the same time, technical teams are assessing possible measures to reduce further leakage and maintain the stability of the tanker and its cargo.

One option under consideration is transferring oil internally from damaged tanks to intact and safer tanks within the vessel, provided its condition and safety requirements allow such an operation. This is intended to reduce the amount of oil exposed to potential leakage and ease risks associated with damaged tanks.

The ministry said such an operation would require generators, pumps and supporting equipment, along with continuous monitoring of the ship’s stability, tank integrity and operating conditions.

Marine and hydrographic surveys are also being carried out around the stranded vessel and along possible approach routes. The surveys are intended to provide accurate information on water depths, seabed conditions and navigational hazards, and to identify safe routes and positions for salvage and support vessels.

These surveys are considered essential before vessels with deeper draughts can be allowed close to the tanker because of the shallow and rocky nature of the surrounding waters.

The ministry said the overall objective is to prepare for the main stage of the salvage operation — transferring the oil cargo from the grounded tanker to another suitably equipped vessel.

Before that can take place, authorities must complete safety preparations aboard the tanker, install power sources and equipment, address risks involving damaged tanks, complete marine surveys, determine safe approach routes for support vessels and select a suitable offshore location for the cargo-transfer operation.

Al Rawahi said the phased approach was based on safety considerations and continuous technical assessment, with the safety of personnel, protection of the marine environment and prevention of any further deterioration in the vessel’s condition remaining the main priorities.

He added that the ministry, in coordination with national authorities, Ambrey and international experts, would continue providing the necessary technical and logistical support to eventually complete the cargo-transfer operation and deal with the grounded vessel as safely and efficiently as possible when weather conditions allow.