Coastal Cleanup: UAE seals northern beaches after tanker spill
Oil from the Gem No.2 tanker has spread 35km along the coast, threatening endangered species near Siniyah island.
By David Almasi ·
The Strait of Hormuz has been a flashpoint for maritime security this month. That volatility is now reaching the sand and water of the United Arab Emirates, where officials have shut down public access to several northern beaches.
Satellite data reveals the scale of the incident. A small leak first appeared on October 19. By Wednesday, the oil slick extended more than 35km from the source vessel. Radar imagery reviewed by BBC Verify and the intelligence firm MAIAR confirms the spill grew rapidly over two days.
The source is the Gem No.2, a Panama-flagged crude oil tanker. Vanguard, a maritime intelligence firm, reported that an unknown projectile struck the ship on October 9. The impact started a fire near Al Jazeera Al Hamra, which crews later extinguished. Iranian state media described the ship as taking an unauthorized route through the strait.
All 22 Indian crew members were rescued, according to the Indian consulate in Dubai. Footage from October 10 shows the crew moving across the deck in heavy smoke. The incident is part of a wider pattern of strikes in the area. Security experts attribute the attacks to Iranian efforts to control the waterway amid tensions with the United States.
The physical impact on the coast became clear on Friday. Verified video shows black oil washing onto the shores near Umm Al Quwain. The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment stated it immediately began containment work to limit environmental damage.
The slick moves toward Siniyah and Khor Al Beidah islands. This area is a Key Biodiversity Area with corals, seagrasses, and saltmarshes. It also supports populations of green turtles and the critically endangered Halavi guitarfish. Eoghan Darbyshire of the Conflict and Environment Observatory called the proximity of the oil to this habitat the most concerning environmental factor.
Steve Widdicombe, director of the Sharjah Marine Science Research Centre, noted that some impact is inevitable. He explained that oil can trap turtles, smother seabirds, and damage fish gills. Long-term exposure to toxic compounds may also hinder reproduction. The final severity of the damage depends on the volume of oil, evaporation rates, and the effectiveness of the cleanup efforts.
This event follows a similar incident in August. A large oil slick reached the shores of Iran's Qeshm Island at that time. Experts warned that spill then threatened local wildlife and fishing communities, setting a precedent for the current cleanup operations in the UAE.
