According to the Marine Environment Protection Authority, for the first time, Sri Lanka has employed satellite technology to attribute responsibility for an oil spill to a tanker under the control of the United Arab Emirates.
On 3rd February, the Global Crest, a crude oil tanker with a registered weight of 12,900 deadweight tons under the flag of Panama, was present in Sri Lanka’s anchorage. As it was moving to the anchorage near Colombo on February 4, a program funded by the French government identified a significant oil slick.
According to the MEPA, satellite images verified a stain measuring almost seven miles in length and extending across one square kilometer (0.3 square miles).
Upon analyzing the images, it promptly became apparent that the source of the oil slick was likely the Global Crest, affiliated with India’s Global Tankers fleet and under the management of a UAE-based company. The vessel anchored approximately 11 miles away from Colombo on the evening of February 5, prompting the MEPA to secure an order for inspecting the ship the next day.
Sri Lanka initiated testing of the system in September 2023, drawing inspiration from the successful application of comparable technology in various global regions. From September 2023 onwards, the MEPA has received over 100 detection reports for thorough investigation.
