Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

The Exxon Valdez oil spill was caused when a tanker ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska, creating a spill of more than 11 million gallons of crude oil shortly after midnight on March 24, 1989. This oil spill was the largest in US history and was a severe test of the response of industrial and governmental organizations to a disaster of this size.

It was complicated by the remote location of the Exxon Valdez, accessible only by helicopter and boat. The first action taken by the US Coast Guard was to close the Port of Valdez. Alyeska, an association that represented several oil companies that operated in Valdez, including Exxon, first assumed responsibility for the cleanup in accordance with the area's contingency plans.

Oil Spill Cleanup Attempts

During the early days of the accident, Exxon appeared more concerned with offloading the remaining oil from the Exxon Valdez than with the oil already contained within the spill that was damaging the immediate environment. Three main methods were used in attempts to cleanup the Exxon Valdez oil spill, burning, mechanical cleanup and chemical dispersants.

A trial burn took place during the early stages of the oil spill. Two ships attached a fire-resistant boom between them and moved slowly through the spill until the boom was full of oil. The two ships then towed it a safe distance from the spill and the oil was lit. Therefore the ensuing fire did not endanger the Exxon Valdez or the oil spill, however, because of continuing unfavourable weather no further burning was attempted.

The mechanical cleanup operation could not begin on the first day of the oil spill, as the skimmers were not available. Thick oil and heavy kelp also slowed up the operation as it clogged the equipment causing the need for time-consuming repairs, while the thick oil had to also be transported to permanent containers.

There were debates over using chemical dispersants for the first three days, but when a decision was finally made, the oil spill was already moving away from the area. Alyeska only had 4000 gallons of dispersant available at the Valdez terminal and no application equipment or aircraft. Although a private company was used to apply the dispersants with a helicopter and dispersant bucket there was not enough wave action to mix the oil with the water.

Environmental Impact of Exxon Valdez

The impact to the environment by the Exxon Valdez oil spill has been the focus of many studies, but rough estimates are that 30000 seabirds, 5000 sea otters and 22 killer whales were killed. The following May, assessment teams were sent out again and more than 1000 workers treated 600 shoreline sites. In 1991 the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council and a series of Regional Council Advisory committees were established.

In the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez disaster, Congress passed the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, which required the Coast Guard to strengthen its regulations on oil tank vessels and oil tank owners and operators. On March 13, 1991, the Justice Department announced a record $900 million settlement with Exxon (with an extra $100 million in fines to be levied to cover any additional damage) to settle all federal and state claims.

Exxon Valdez ship statistics

The Exxon Valdez was a relatively new ship having been delivered in San Diego on December 11, 1984 by the National Steel and Ship Building Company. At the time it was the largest vessel to be built on the US West coast. It measured 987 feet long, 166 feet wide and 88 feet deep from the main deck. It carried 21 crew including the captain and was capable of transporting 1.48 million barrels of crude oil per voyage.

After repair it was rehabilitated as the Exxon Mediterranean. It was then sold on and now sails for Seariver Maritime Inc as the S/R Mediterranean.