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

Three separate oil spills are spreading through the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, raising concerns over environmental damage as the conflict surrounding the Strait of Hormuz intensifies. According to reports from the New York Times, the situation has worsened significantly since March 1, when thousands of oil tankers began operating without their navigational transponders, commonly referred to as “going dark”, to avoid potential attacks by Iranian forces. Maritime data firm Kpler recorded 1,514 instances of dark crossings in and out of the Persian Gulf during this period. This practice, which has historically been uncommon except among vessels under sanctions or engaged in smuggling, has now become widespread amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran. Experts warn that the lack of visibility increases the likelihood of accidents and spills, particularly in the narrow and heavily trafficked waters of the Strait of Hormuz. Kaveh Madani, director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, emphasized the dangers posed by reduced situational awareness. He noted that the absence of transponder signals diminishes the ability of ships to communicate effectively, increasing the risk of collisions and environmental harm. “In a narrow and strategically congested waterway such as the Strait of Hormuz, reduced transparency adds another layer of environmental risk,” he stated. One of the affected areas is Qeshm Island, where an oil slick has reached the mangrove ecosystems. The spill is believed to have originated from the Minoan Pioneer, a Liberia-flagged dry bulk ship that was struck by an unknown projectile near Oman’s coast on August 3. The incident occurred while the vessel was passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. A seafarer aboard the Minoan Pioneer went missing, though the cause of the incident remains unclear. A source involved in the salvage operation for the Minoan Pioneer, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that efforts to secure the grounded vessel were hindered by difficulties in obtaining permission from Iranian authorities. Despite these challenges, the spill has been largely contained, with officials reporting that approximately 80 percent of the oil has been recovered. Another spill, linked to the grounding of the Caroline Bezengi, has spread around a nature reserve near Oman’s coastline. The vessel, carrying an estimated 800,000 barrels of Russian oil and subject to international sanctions, ran aground on June 30 near a marine sanctuary that supports diverse wildlife, including humpback whales, green sea turtles, and coral reefs. Although no party has officially claimed responsibility for the attack, the vessel was reportedly navigating through two ongoing conflicts, between Russia and Ukraine, and between Russia and India, as it traveled from Russia to India. The resulting oil slick now spans an estimated 400 to 500 square miles and has begun seeping into the nature reserve. It has also started washing ashore along the Turtle Coast, a region known for its rich biodiversity. Response teams have deployed salvage vessels, aircraft, and specialized equipment weighing 100 metric tons to manage the cleanup effort. A third oil slick has been observed near the oil and gas hub of Sirri Island, though its exact origin remains unverified. While none of the spills have been directly attributed to vessels going dark to evade Iranian attacks, experts caution that the trend of adopting unsafe navigation practices is likely to persist unless Gulf oil-producing nations invest in better infrastructure to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Karen E. Young, a senior research scholar at Columbia University specializing in the Middle East, highlighted the growing reliance of ship captains on transponder technology. As more vessels turn off their transmitters, the risks associated with poor visibility and communication continue to escalate. The situation underscores the urgent need for improved safety measures and greater transparency in the region’s vital shipping lanes.