A significant oil spill, covering approximately 400 square kilometers (150 square miles), is being contained off the southern coast of Oman. The spill originated from the stranded tanker Caroline Bezengi, which has been adrift in a protected marine area for over a month. According to the latest analysis by the Oman Environment Authority, the spill is located within 7 kilometers (4.4 miles) of the coast. Greenpeace estimates the slick to be around 600 square kilometers (230 square miles), based on satellite imagery analysis. The tanker, suspected to be part of Russia's 'shadow fleet,' loaded crude oil at Novorossiysk, Russia in April and passed through the Suez Canal at the end of May. It became stranded near Oman’s al-Qibliyyah Island in early June following an explosion that caused water ingress into several sections of the vessel. The spill is concentrated around Oman’s Hallaniyat archipelago, a marine reserve established to protect sensitive ecosystems and diverse marine life. Authorities are taking swift action to safeguard the region's biodiversity, including coral reefs, turtle nesting areas, marine habitats, and coastal areas of ecological importance. Aerial surveillance is underway, with divers deployed to assess the situation. The authorities are in the early stages of developing a plan to transfer the tanker’s oil cargo to minimize risks, ensure navigational safety, and protect the marine environment. The cause of the spill remains unknown. Greenpeace and Dutch peace organization PAX warn that the spill is on the brink of causing an environmental disaster, with the tanker carrying approximately one million barrels of crude oil bound for Asia. The Caroline Bezengi is subject to sanctions imposed by several countries due to its association with Russia's 'shadow fleet,' which Moscow uses to evade Western sanctions on oil exports. Tankers in the Gulf region have been a frequent target since the US-Israel conflict with Iran began at the end of February.