Strikes on Tankers Cause Oil Spill Near Basra Ports

Iranian strikes on two oil tankers in Iraqi territorial waters last week have triggered growing environmental concerns, after satellite imagery revealed an oil slick spanning approximately 5.7 square kilometres near the Basra Oil Terminal.

The incident, which left one crew member dead and 38 in need of rescue, has raised fears over the vulnerability of Iraq’s offshore energy infrastructure and the environmental risks posed by continued attacks on oil tankers in the Persian Gulf.

As a result of the attack, oil terminal operations have been “totally suspended”, according to Farhan al-Fartousi, director general of the Iraqi Ports Company. Commercial ports, however, will continue to function.

The vessels were reportedly targeted by explosive-laden unmanned surface craft while operating near key export infrastructure 50km from the Iraqi coast. The cargo onboard, identified as an oil condensate, is believed to have largely burned in the resulting fires, with fuel oil from the ships themselves understood to be the primary source of the spill.

While this oil spill, in isolation, is unlikely to have a tangible impact on Iraq’s environment, the real danger lies in the accumulation of similar incidents. 85 tankers are currently trapped in the Persian Gulf and, if tensions continue to escalate, they may also be targeted.

Oil spills can have devastating effects on the Gulf’s marine ecosystem; they can coat fish gills, destroy the waterproofing of bird’s feathers and, crucially, kill plankton, which forms the base of the marine food chain.

This spill also raises concerns about coastal contamination. Iraq’s southern shoreline, including areas near the Shatt al-Arab, is host to environmentally sensitive wetlands, coral reefs and mangrove forests that support biodiversity and local fishing activity. Oil reaching these areas could result in longer term impacts on fragile ecosystems and livelihoods.

In a statement released last week, a spokesperson for Greenpeace Germany described the situation as an “environmental disaster waiting to happen.” “A single oil spill in the Gulf could damage this fragile marine habitat beyond repair with devastating consequences for people, animals, and plants in the region.”

The incident comes amid a broader increase in attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf; at least 16 incidents have now been reported. Repeated strikes on tankers raise the risk of further oil spills, with response efforts to clean up any prospective spills likely to be constrained by the increasingly volatile security conditions.

As tensions continue to rise in the Persian Gulf, this incident underscores the growing risks to both critical energy infrastructure and fragile marine ecosystems. With dozens of tankers in the region and attacks showing no sign of abating, the likelihood of further environmental damage remains high.

Source: Wave Watchers