Tanker Strike Triggers 35km Oil Slick, Forcing UAE Coastal Closures

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have closed beaches near Umm Al Quwain after oil from the damaged tanker Gem No.2 spread more than 35 kilometers (22 miles) along the coast. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment announced on Thursday that the northern city’s shores were being affected, prompting immediate containment efforts to limit environmental damage. Verified video from Friday shows blackened water washing onto the sand, marking the arrival of the spill at the shoreline.

The incident traces back to 9 October, when the Panama-flagged vessel was struck by an unknown projectile just north of Al Jazeera Al Hamra. The impact started a fire that was later extinguished, though a leak developed in the hull. Satellite imagery reviewed by MAIAR shows the slick was small on 19 October but expanded rapidly over the next two days. By Monday, images confirmed the early stages of the spill, and by Wednesday, the slick had stretched beyond the 35 kilometer mark from the ship's location.

The Gem No.2 was one of a record number of vessels attacked in and around the Strait of Hormuz at the start of October. Security experts attribute the strikes to an Iranian effort to assert control over the waterway in response to US military escorts. Iranian state media described the ship’s route as unauthorized and dangerous. The Indian consulate in Dubai confirmed on 11 October that all 22 Indian crew members had been rescued from the burning vessel.

The slick is extending toward Siniyah and Khor Al Beidah islands, a globally recognized Key Biodiversity Area. This habitat contains corals, seagrasses, saltmarshes, 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 area as the most concerning environmental angle.

Prof Steve Widdicombe, director of the Sharjah Marine Science Research Centre, stated it was inevitable that the spill would have an impact. He noted that while immediate harm includes trapping turtles and smothering seabirds, longer-term exposure to toxic compounds could affect species reproduction. Researchers emphasize that the severity of the damage depends on the volume and type of oil spilled, evaporation rates, and the effectiveness of the cleanup.

The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said it had immediately begun containment to limit environmental impacts. The response follows a similar incident in August when a large oil slick reached Iran's Qeshm Island, threatening local wildlife and fishing communities. The current event represents the latest disruption to maritime logistics in the region, where commercial ships continue to face risks from both Iranian and US forces amid the ongoing conflict.

The Gem No.2 remains the source of the leak, with the slick continuing to move along the UAE coastline. The closure of northern beaches serves as a precautionary measure while the government works to contain the spread of crude oil in the Gulf of Oman.