Gulf Tanker Strike: 35km Oil Slick Closes UAE Northern Beaches
Crude oil from the Gem No.2 has spread along the coast, prompting immediate containment efforts near Umm Al Quwain.
By Maya Sokolov ·
More than 35 kilometers of the United Arab Emirates coastline is currently covered by an oil slick originating from a struck tanker. Satellite imagery captured on Wednesday confirms the spill has extended 22 miles from the vessel. The visible contamination began appearing in images from Monday, following a smaller leak detected on 19 October.
Radar data reviewed by intelligence firm MAIAR indicates the spill volume increased rapidly between 19 and 21 October. The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment announced on Thursday that beaches near the northern city of Umm Al Quwain were affected. Verified video from Friday shows black oil washing ashore, and officials stated they immediately began containment operations to limit environmental impacts.
The source of the spill is the Panama-flagged crude oil tanker Gem No.2. Maritime intelligence firm Vanguard reported the ship was struck by an unknown projectile on 9 October, just north of Al Jazeera Al Hamra. The impact started a fire that was later extinguished. Iranian state media described the vessel as attempting to leave the Strait of Hormuz via an unauthorized route. The Indian consulate in Dubai confirmed on 11 October that all 22 Indian crew members had been rescued.
Security experts attribute the strike to an Iranian effort to assert control over the waterway in response to increased US military escorts. This incident is part of a record number of ship attacks reported in the strait at the start of October. Both Iranian and US forces have targeted commercial shipping during the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
The slick is moving toward Siniyah and Khor Al Beidah islands, a designated Key Biodiversity Area. These habitats contain corals, seagrasses, and saltmarshes. The area is home to green turtles and the critically endangered Halavi guitarfish. Eoghan Darbyshire, a scientist at the Conflict and Environment Observatory, identified the spill's proximity to this zone as the most concerning environmental angle.
Prof Steve Widdicombe, director of the Sharjah Marine Science Research Centre, stated it is inevitable that marine life will be impacted. Spills can kill animals quickly by trapping turtles, smothering seabird feathers, or damaging fish gills. Long-term exposure to toxic compounds in the oil can also reduce species' ability to reproduce. Researchers note it is too early to determine the severity of the damage, which depends on oil volume, type, evaporation rates, and cleanup effectiveness.
This event follows a previous major spill in the region. In August, a large oil slick reached the shores of Iran's Qeshm Island. Experts at the time warned that the contamination threatened local wildlife, protected ecosystems, and fishing communities.
Source: BBC News
