A significant oil slick has emerged in the maritime corridor leading to the ports of Ras Isa and Saleef in Yemen's Hodeidah Governorate, with indications suggesting the pollution is connected to ship-to-ship oil transfer operations off the western coast. Satellite imagery captured over recent weeks has revealed oil patches in the waters near the islands of Uqban and Al-Badi'ah. The most recent sighting occurred on August 19, when a large slick appeared north of Al-Badi'ah island. Farouq Al-Kamali, an expert in information verification technologies and artificial intelligence, stated that the pollution site is located in an area where oil is being transferred between maritime tankers and other vessels for delivery to the Ras Isa and Saleef ports, which are under Houthi militia control. Al-Kamali suggested that the oil slicks likely result from these ship-to-ship transfers at sea, noting the use of "dark vessels"—tankers that disable their tracking signals during transit. He further explained that ship tracking data has shown tankers carrying Russian crude oil originating from the Mediterranean Sea before their tracking signals disappear as they approach the Hodeidah coast. On August 29, monitoring revealed three "dark" tankers transferring Russian crude oil to other vessels near the Ras Isa port. These oil transfer activities in waters near Houthi-controlled ports raise environmental concerns, given the recurring appearance of oil slicks in the region and the potential damage to marine ecosystems, coastal areas, and the livelihoods of fishermen. |
