LONDON, August 12. /TASS/. Oil from the Caroline Bezengi tanker carrying around 800,000 barrels of oil, which has grounded off the coast of Oman, has begun reaching the shore, though salvage operations are severely hampered by difficult weather conditions, the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) spokesperson told TASS.

"Oil has been leaking from the vessel for some time. The seasonal monsoon has limited access to the vessel and delayed salvage operations. Oil is drifting offshore to the northeast of Al-Qibliyyah Island with some oil reported to be reaching the mainland," the spokesperson said, adding that oil spill contingency planning is in place.

According to the Associated Press, the 247-meter tanker Caroline Bezengi departed from a Black Sea port in May, and on June 8, the crew reported an explosion on board. The tanker subsequently ran aground near the Al Hallaniyat Islands in Oman’s Dhofar Governorate, resulting in a leak of petroleum products. The Omani government has launched a cleanup operation involving the transport ministry and environmental agencies.