Oil tankers going dark to evade Iranian attacks raises major oil spill risk in Gulf - report

The conflict surrounding the Strait of Hormuz is escalating environmental risks as oil tankers increasingly turn off their navigation systems to evade attacks, leading to a heightened danger of significant oil spills. The New York Times reported that since March 1, there have been 1,514 "dark" crossings in and out of the Persian Gulf, a practice that has become more common for ships avoiding sanctions or carrying illicit cargo.

Turning off advanced navigation equipment and transponders, typically used to prevent collisions and spills, reduces situational awareness. Kaveh Madani, director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, told the NYT that "When more ships become invisible, situational awareness declines." He added that in a narrow and congested waterway like the Strait of Hormuz, this reduced transparency "adds another layer of environmental risk."

At least three oil spills are currently spreading through the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. One slick, likely originating from the Liberia-flagged dry bulk ship Minoan Pioneer, has reached Iran's Qeshm Island and its sensitive mangrove ecosystems. The Minoan Pioneer was reportedly hit by an unknown projectile near Oman's coast on August 3, in a suspected Iranian attack, resulting in one missing seafarer. While salvage operations were underway, obtaining permission from Iranian authorities proved difficult.

Another oil spill resulted from an attack on the Caroline Bezengi tanker, a vessel carrying an estimated 800,000 barrels of Russian oil and operating under international sanctions. This spill spread around an Omani marine nature reserve, impacting an area of approximately 400 to 500 square miles. The reserve is home to diverse wildlife, including humpback whales, green sea turtles, and endangered hawksbill turtles. The response to this spill involved salvage vessels, aircraft, and specialists utilizing 100 metric tons of equipment.

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When more ships become invisible, situational awareness declines. In a narrow and strategically congested waterway such as the Strait of Hormuz, reduced transparency adds another layer of environmental risk.