The spill from the Caroline Bezengi tanker, apparently the result of an unexplained attack on the vessel in June, has spread around a nature reserve and hit Oman's coastline on Wednesday.

The Caroline Bezengi is believed to be part of Russia's 'shadow fleet' that Moscow uses to circumvent Western sanctions.

A spill of this scale requires dispersant be sprayed across the affected area by aircraft and the use of booms and other equipment to collect the oil before it reaches the shore…