UAE contains oil spill from damaged tanker, continues coastal cleanup

By Omer Asur Cuhada and Sahin Demir

ISTANBUL (AA) – The United Arab Emirates announced Friday that it contained an oil spill from a tanker involved in an incident in its territorial waters, while efforts continued to address marine pollution affecting several coastal areas.

The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure said it was coordinating with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, and other agencies to secure the oil tanker GEM NO. 2 and minimize potential risks, according to the state news agency WAM.

The ministry said technical teams were continuing repairs to damaged sections of the tanker, restoring some operational systems and assessing the vessel’s structural integrity to determine the safest way to handle it.

No new oil leakage has been detected from the tanker, while maritime and aerial monitoring, supported by satellite imagery, continues, according to the latest field assessments,

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said its teams were continuing efforts to contain marine pollution caused by the spill, including field surveys, monitoring and cleanup operations in affected coastal areas.

It stressed that public safety remained its top priority, WAM reported.

Satellite imagery available as of Friday shows the oil slick was concentrated off the coast of Umm Al Quwain, extending partially toward coastal areas of Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Sharjah.

The ministry said the concentration of pollution had declined significantly, while efforts continued to contain the spill and address its environmental impact.

It added that cleanup operations primarily relied on mechanical recovery methods, alongside chemical dispersants used in accordance with international standards and approved technical guidelines.

The ministry said the temporary closure of several beaches and coastal areas was precautionary.

It clarified that the closures did not necessarily mean contamination had been detected at every affected location, but were intended to protect public health and the marine environment while cleanup operations continued.

Meanwhile, Etihad Water and Electricity said drinking water remained safe, adding that it had implemented precautionary measures to monitor seawater quality and test produced and distributed water without disrupting supplies to consumers.

Authorities did not disclose the nature or cause of the tanker incident, nor did they say when it occurred.

On Oct. 23, the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment announced the temporary closure of all beaches and coastal areas in Umm Al Quwain after detecting marine pollution caused by an oil spill from a tanker.

Şahin Demir