Tanker Strike Sends 35km Oil Slick Toward UAE Shore
Authorities in Umm Al Quwain have closed coastal areas after the spill from the hit Gem No.2 expanded rapidly over two days.
By Harper Laurent ·
More than 35 kilometers of oil now stretch from the struck tanker Gem No.2 toward the coast of the United Arab Emirates. The slick expanded rapidly between Monday and Wednesday, growing from a small leak first detected on 19 October into a substantial spill visible in satellite imagery.
The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment confirmed on Thursday that beaches near the northern city of Umm Al Quwain were being affected. By Friday, verified video showed black oil washing ashore. The ministry stated that it had immediately begun containment efforts to limit the environmental impact on coastal zones.
The spill extends toward Siniyah and Khor Al Beidah islands, a designated Key Biodiversity Area. This region supports coral reefs, seagrass beds, and saltmarshes. It is also 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 specific habitat as the most concerning environmental aspect of the incident.
Prof Steve Widdicombe, director of the Sharjah Marine Science Research Centre, told BBC Verify that an impact on marine life is inevitable. Researchers note that the severity of the damage depends on several factors, including the volume and type of oil, evaporation rates, and the effectiveness of the cleanup. Widdicombe warned that while spills can kill turtles, birds, and fish quickly through smothering or gill damage, prolonged exposure to toxic compounds can also reduce reproductive capacity over the long term.
The Gem No.2 was hit by an unknown projectile on 9 October, just north of Al Jazeera Al Hamra. The strike ignited a fire that was later extinguished. Footage from 10 October showed crew members donning lifejackets on the deck as black smoke rose from the vessel. Iranian state media described the ship as attempting to leave the Strait of Hormuz via an unauthorized and dangerous route. The Indian consulate in Dubai confirmed on 11 October that all 22 Indian crew members were rescued.
Security experts describe the strikes on commercial ships as part of an Iranian effort to assert control over the waterway in response to increased US military escorts. The Gem No.2 was one of a record number of vessels attacked in and around the strait in early October. Both Iranian and US forces have targeted commercial shipping during the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
This incident follows a similar event in August when a large oil slick reached the shores of Iran's Qeshm Island. Experts at the time noted that the spill threatened protected ecosystems, wildlife, and local fishing communities. The current spill in UAE waters raises similar concerns for the region's marine environments.
