HONDURAS-FLAGGED TANKER AL JAZYA 1 SINKS OFF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, 2000-01-25 (photo)

Oil spills out of Honduras-flagged tanker Al Jazya 1 as it sinks off the coast Abu Dhabi January 25. Clean-up teams have brought under control an oil spill in the Gulf from the tanker which sank off the United Arab Emirates, officials said on Tuesday. The tanker, owned by a UAE firm and carrying about 900 tonnes of heavy fuel as well as fuel for its own use, sank on Monday initially causing an oil slick up to 900 metres (yards) long after 200-300 tonnes of oil leaked out, officials said. All nine crew were rescued. Officials said choppy seas and oil dispersal operations on Monday had now reduced the slick to 200-300 metres (yards). Six clean-up vessels, owned by subsidiaries of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC), as well as coastguard and other vessels were on the scene, an ADNOC official said. JDP