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

Three oil spills are currently spreading through the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, with the risk of further incidents increasing due to the widening conflict around the Strait of Hormuz. Oil tankers are increasingly "going dark" by turning off navigation systems to evade potential Iranian attacks, a practice previously rare and limited to sanctioned or illegal cargo vessels. Since March 1, there have been 1,514 such dark crossings in and out of the Persian Gulf, according to maritime data firm Kpler. Experts warn that this reduced transparency in a congested waterway significantly elevates environmental risks. Kaveh Madani, director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, stated, "When more ships become invisible, situational awareness declines."

• One spill, likely from the Minoan Pioneer after a suspected Iranian attack, has reached Iran's Qeshm Island and its mangrove ecosystems.
• Another spill from the Caroline Bezengi tanker, carrying Russian oil and under sanctions, has spread around an Omani marine nature reserve, impacting wildlife and coral reefs.
• A third slick has been observed near the island of Sirri, an oil and gas hub, with an unverified origin.

While none of these spills are directly attributed to vessels going dark, experts caution that such unsafe navigation tactics, reminiscent of older technologies, increase collision and environmental disaster risks in a region already facing ecological challenges.