Hundreds of workers continue to clean oil spilt off the UAE

Dozens of workers are persistently cleaning up oil spills across the UAE, with equipment being airlifted from as far as the United States to aid their efforts. The laborious task is ongoing despite some beaches now being reopened following meticulous cleaning. Companies like Evogreen, a joint venture between Sharjah-based Beeah Group and Polygreen, a Greek-owned firm, are heavily involved in the operation.

Dr Vassilios Mamaloukas Frangoulis, director of oil spill response services at Beeah Group, reports around 1,000 personnel engaged in Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah. Despite a vast stretch of coastline affected, he asserts the clean-up is "manageable" and "technically straightforward". Among the methods employed is flushing sand, involving a low-pressure hose to release significant volumes of water in the upper parts of beaches to eradicate the oil.

Washing equipment is also utilized to clean oil off hard surfaces, such as stone walls, he adds. All the collected waste is handled through absorbent materials or mechanical methods, like skimmers. The operation demands a substantial number of skilled personnel, with the company employing nearly 100 pieces of equipment, including three oil skimmer boats.

The clean-up effort is massive, with pumping equipment, hoses to wash down sand, and large amounts of hazardous waste generated and processed at Beeah’s site in Sharjah. Certain areas are prioritized for cleaning, including beaches in Sharjah and those in front of hotels in Ras Al Khaimah. The clean-up efforts will continue for days in some locations, while others may require a few months, potentially extending into the following year.

The company faces a challenge as strong winds can displace oil close to the shore. Areas like mangroves, which have been impacted by oil, require careful handling using less drastic methods. In other oil-affected locations like Mauritius, mangroves have been flushed with large quantities of water, reducing the clean-up time. Some flushing might be attempted in the UAE, though with tidal conditions, natural circulation is present.

The spill, confirmed by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment on October 22, was caused by the Gem No 2 supertanker, which was rescued after being hit by a suspected Iranian drone early in October. The presence of the oil spill was reported in previous days due to a fuel-like smell. Ecocoast, a Dubai-based company, is also contributing to the efforts, producing booms to contain the oil.

With the company experiencing its largest spill yet, it has doubled production output by adding machines and resources. The booms, made of PVC panels, aluminium connectors, and flotation devices, can be custom-built to any length required and are installed by Ecocoast’s divers and boats, but demand has been overwhelming.