Exxon Valdez Oil Spill - March 1989

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill - March 1989

On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez, a tanker owned by Exxon Corporation, struck the reef "Captain Bly's Reef" in Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA. Approximately 412,000 liters (260,000 barrels) of crude oil spilled, contaminating an area of 3367 square kilometers. The spilled crude oil contained benzene and other toxic substances and spread over 2,092 km of coastline, killing approximately 250,000 seabirds, 3,000 sea otters, 250 eagles, and 22 killer whales. After the accident, Exxon was responsible for $2.1 billion in cleanup costs, $1.5 billion in fines and compensation, and more than $2.5 billion in legal fees. The accident led to the enactment of the Oil Pollution Prevention Act in the U.S., and the International Maritime Organization revised its convention requiring double-hulled vessels, strengthening efforts to protect the marine environment around the world.