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Oil Still Leaks from Sunken Iraqi Tanker in UAE Offshore Areas
Oil is still escaping from an Iraqi vessel carrying 1,300 tons of petroleum after it sank in offshore areas of the emirate of Dubai of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday.
The UAE Federal Environmental Agency (FEA) and local authorities have been trying to control the leak from the vessel, which has so far exceeded more than 300 tons.
All 11 crew members, including the captain, have been rescued, the Abu Dhabi TV reported Sunday night.
A video taken from a helicopter on the spot where the tanker " the Zainab" sank showed that the oil in the vessel was leaking into the Persian Gulf water and floating on the surface of the sea.
The UAE authorities, including the Coast Guard and Dubai municipality, have taken emergency operations to contain the slick.
A statement released by the FEA on Sunday said the operations include controlling any leakage, pumping out the oil stored in the tanks to help salvage the vessel, fending the slick from spreading and affecting the nearby beaches.
The incident occurred 16.5 nautical miles north off the coast of Port Jebel Ali of Dubai, at about 2 p.m. (1000 GMT) on Saturday, said the statement.
A team has been reportedly sent to the scene to deal with the issue, while an emergency meeting has been convened by Hamad Abdul Rahman Al Madfa, minister of health and also chairman of the FEA, to cope with the environmental situation.
The latest report said that the ship was supposed en route to Pakistan, or to an area in international waters for sanctions- busting ships. However the UAE authorities refused to provide more details about the incident.
Just a week ago, a 12-kilometer-radius oil slick spilled by an unknown tanker passing the world's busiest shipping lanes in Persian Gulf, hit the protected island of Sir Bou Neair, about 70 nautical miles off the coast of emirate of Sharjah. A number of halobios and birds living around the island were found dead due to the slick.
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