Oil Spills Rock Strait of Hormuz as Tensions Rise Between US and Iran

Two oil tankers have spilled their cargo off the coast of Iran in recent days. One tanker, the Kavomaleas, was hit by an attack from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and later captured and towed into Iranian waters.

The other tanker's identity is unknown, as it does not transmit its Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals, known as 'dark' or 'silent' vessels. The spill from this vessel has been ongoing since at least May, according to Windward, a maritime data consultancy.

Both oil slicks are drifting towards Larak and Qeshm Islands in the Strait of Hormuz.