Oman is facing an impending environmental catastrophe as an alleged Russian shadow fleet tanker leaks oil across hundreds of square kilometres near a nature reserve, NGOs warn. The ship was rocked by explosions, a maritime security firm told AFP, but the cause of the blasts is unclear. “With oil apparently continuing to leak and the vessel stranded in a difficult location, the risk of an even larger environmental disaster remains serious,” Nina Noelle of Greenpeace told AFP. The International Maritime Organization told AFP it was “currently offering assistance to Oman”, without providing further details on the incident. According to Noelle, the Caroline Bezengi was an example of the “grave environmental risks” associated with Russia’s ghost fleet.