BEIRUT/LONDON, July 31 (Reuters) - A sanctions-hit tanker is leaking oil off the coast of Oman and the spill has spread in recent days, increasing concern about possible environmental damage to coastal areas, according to an analysis of satellite imagery and shipping specialists.
The Caroline Bezengi took Russian oil on board at the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk before leaving for its most recent voyage, ship tracking data shows.
It first reported difficulties on June 8 off the southern Yemeni port of Mukalla, two maritime security sources said, adding that initial assessments indicated that a blast occurred onboard.
A satellite image from July 28 shows a dark slick in the water near the vessel and lighter patches north of al-Qibliyyah island, which lies close to Oman's coast and is part of a protected marine area.
"The darker oil slicks indicate that at least one of the hulls of the crude oil storage ship seems now to be breached, and the ship is leaking crude oil," Wim Zwijnenburg, a remote-sensing specialist with the Dutch peace advocacy organisation Pax, said after reviewing the imagery.
The area's monsoon season, which usually peaks in July and August, can bring severe weather conditions that could rapidly spread the crude oil, Zwijnenburg added.
