Oil pollution concerns grow over ship-to-ship transfers off Yemen

An oil slick has been spotted off the coast of Yemen near Hodeidah, where ships reportedly transfer oil at sea before it is taken to the Houthi-controlled ports of Ras Isa and Saleef. Marine Insight reports that satellite images from recent weeks show several oil patches near Uqban and Al-Badi’ah islands. A large slick was seen north of Al-Badi’ah on August 19.

Farouq Al-Kamali, an expert in information verification and artificial intelligence, said the waters off western Yemen are used for ship-to-ship oil transfers. Tankers and other vessels reportedly use the area to move oil toward Ras Isa and Saleef.

The activity has also raised questions about the use of “dark vessels” in the area. These are tankers that switch off their tracking signals, making their movements harder to follow. According to Al-Kamali, tracking data showed that some tankers carrying Russian crude oil had travelled through the Mediterranean before their signals disappeared as they approached the Hodeidah coast.

On August 29, three dark tankers were reportedly seen transferring Russian crude oil to other vessels near Ras Isa, Al-Kamali said.

The repeated appearance of oil slicks has raised environmental concerns. The pollution could affect marine life and coastal areas, as well as fishermen who depend on these waters for their livelihoods.

There is no information so far about an official investigation into the cause of the slicks or any cleanup operation.

Ras Isa and Saleef are two important ports on Yemen’s western coast in Hodeidah Governorate. Both are under Houthi control and receive oil brought in through ship-to-ship transfers at sea.

 

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