Tanker Wreckage Blackens UAE Northern Shores

Black oil washed onto the beaches near Umm Al Quwain on Friday, marking the arrival of a major spill from the strait. Verified video shows the water turning dark as the slick reaches the coast of the northern emirate. Authorities confirmed the impact on Thursday and moved to secure the area.

The leak originates from the Panama-flagged crude oil tanker Gem No.2. Satellite data indicates the vessel was struck by an unknown projectile on 9 October, just north of Al Jazeera Al Hamra. A small leak appeared on 19 October, but radar imagery shows the spill expanded rapidly. By Wednesday, the slick stretched more than 35km from the ship's location.

The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment stated that containment operations began immediately to limit environmental damage. The ministry is working to contain the spread of the crude oil before it moves further along the coastline. This response follows the rapid growth of the slick over the two days following the initial small leak.

The spill poses a direct threat to Siniyah and Khor Al Beidah islands. These islands constitute a globally recognized Key Biodiversity Area. The habitats contain corals, seagrasses, and saltmarshes. They also support populations of green turtles and the critically endangered Halavi guitarfish. Eoghan Darbyshire of the Conflict and Environment Observatory identified the proximity to this area as the most concerning environmental factor.

Steve Widdicombe, director of the Sharjah Marine Science Research Centre, told BBC Verify that an impact was inevitable. He noted that spills can kill marine life quickly by trapping turtles or smothering seabirds. Long-term exposure to toxic compounds can also impair reproduction. Researchers caution that it is too early to determine the full severity of the damage.

The extent of the harm depends on the volume and type of oil, evaporation rates, and clean-up effectiveness. The Gem No.2 incident is part of a series of attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Security experts attribute the strikes to an Iranian effort to assert control over the waterway. This follows increased US military escorts of vessels in the region.

All 22 Indian crew members were rescued after the ship was hit. The Indian consulate in Dubai confirmed their safe evacuation on 11 October. Footage from 10 October shows crew members running across the deck and donning lifejackets under a plume of black smoke. Iranian state media described the ship as traveling by an unauthorized route.

This is not the first major spill in the region. In August, a large oil slick reached the shores of Iran's Qeshm Island. That incident also threatened wildlife, protected ecosystems, and local fishing communities. The current spill from the Gem No.2 adds to the pressure on the marine environment in the Strait of Hormuz.