The Caroline Bezunsky oil tanker (IMO 9224439), which is under sanctions from the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States, is currently in a rescue situation off the southeastern coast of Yemen. This tanker loaded its oil cargo from Novorossiysk on May 30 after passing through the Suez Canal and was heading towards Gujarat when it was damaged on June 8 due to a suspected underwater mine explosion.
Current Status of the Caroline Bezunsky Tanker
After the incident, the Caroline Bezunsky tanker was moving northeast until it struck the rocks on June 30. This tanker, linked to the Russian state shipping company Sukamflet, has become completely stuck on the rocks due to adverse weather conditions during the rainy season. However, it seems that with the start of a new season and a decrease in wind intensity, conditions for the rescue operation have improved.
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Rescue Operations and Environmental Risks
On October 8, wind speeds in the area reached 11 knots, and wave heights were less than one meter. These mild conditions allow the rescue team to begin operations on the deck of the tanker, and the next phase of the rescue plan will likely involve bringing a smaller tanker closer to the island to start the discharge process. However, there have been no signs of the discharge operation beginning yet.
The Caroline Bezunsky tanker continues to leak oil, and evidence of an oil slick spreading northeast is visible in satellite images. Additionally, it appears that under the new calm weather conditions, this slick is also expanding southeast. This raises serious concerns about the environmental impacts of this incident.
Considering that on October 8, four other vessels were also identified near this tanker, fishing activities in the area have returned to normal. The rescue operations in this area, due to the sanctions and the tanker’s connections with the Russian government, are particularly significant from a political and economic standpoint under the current circumstances.
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