A ship that sank near Dubai's Jebel Ali port in the Gulf was a Georgian-flagged vessel that was smuggling Iraqi oil in violation of UN sanctions, the US Navy said today.
The Emirate's Federal Environmental Agency said the ship spilled some of its cargo of 1,300 tonnes of fuel.
A UAE official said the ship was going from Iraq to Pakistan.
"The ship was en route to a holding area in international waters for sanction-busting ships when it sank," said Commander Jeff Gradeck, spokesman for the Bahrain-based US Navy's 5th Fleet.
He said the ship, the Georgian-flagged Zainab, was intercepted several days ago by the US-led Multinational Interception Force that enforces the sanctions against Iraq.
He said two US ships in the area "helped the 11-member Iraqi crew stabilise the ship" after it was damaged by a strong wave.
Problems began yesterday morning, and by the afternoon the Zainabhad began sinking, Commander Gradeck said.
UN rules allow Iraq to sell oil on condition most of the proceeds are used to meet Iraqis' basic needs. Oil smuggled out outside the so-called oil-for-food deal and the vessels carrying it are auctioned off.
Ships carrying smuggled Iraqi oil have routinely passed through the waters of the Emirates.
In 1998, after an oil barge believed to be carrying Iraqi fuel spilled tons of oil off the Emirates, contaminating some 9 miles of coastline, the Emirates launched a crackdown on sanctions-busting tankers.