OMM Newsroom
The United Arab Emirates said on Friday it had contained an oil spill from a tanker involved in an incident in its territorial waters, while efforts continued to address marine pollution in several coastal areas, according to Anadolu Agency.
The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure is coordinating with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority and other agencies to secure the tanker, GEM NO. 2, and reduce potential risks, the state news agency WAM reported.
Technical teams are repairing damaged sections of the vessel, restoring some operational systems and assessing its structural integrity to determine the safest way to handle it. The latest field assessments found no new oil leakage, while maritime and aerial monitoring, supported by satellite imagery, continued.
Cleanup continues along affected coastlines
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said its teams were carrying out field surveys, monitoring and cleanup operations in affected coastal areas. It said public safety remained its top priority.
Satellite imagery available as of Friday showed the oil slick concentrated off the coast of Umm Al Quwain, extending partly towards coastal areas of Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Sharjah. The ministry said the concentration of pollution had declined significantly, as efforts to contain the spill and address its environmental impact continued.
Cleanup operations rely primarily 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 a precautionary measure, the ministry added. It said 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 continued.
“Etihad Water and Electricity” said drinking water remained safe. The company said it had taken precautionary steps to monitor seawater quality and test produced and distributed water, without disrupting supplies to consumers.
Authorities have not disclosed the nature or cause of the tanker incident, or 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.
