EXXON VALDEZ DISASTER

BOAT DESCRIPTION: The Exxon Valdez was an oil tanker,

approximately 300 meters long and weighing 280,000 tons (loaded to its

maximum capacity). It was in 1989 the second newest ship in the Exxon

Shipping Company. And it was maneuvered by only 19 crew plus captain.

DATE: On March 24, 1989

THE SITE: Prince William Bay is one of the most idyllic spots in the U.S.

and integrates the most part the Chugach National Forest Park, which

attracts thousands of tourists every summer to observe wildlife in its

unique beauty.

ROUTE FAILED: The "Exxon Valdez" tried to avoid the area of glacial ice. For reasons

that have yet to be conclusively determined, departed too far from its path and crashed

into the reef.

RESPONSIBLE: Although the reasons for the accident were never entirely clear, the

following are the most frequently mentioned:

The third officer: was he who performed the maneuver failed, probably because of fatigue

due to overwork.

The captain did not fulfill their functions properly under the effects of alcohol.

The Exxon Shipping Company: not provided the "Exxon Valdez" the necessary crew.

The Navigation Service Tanks: lack of equipment and proper training.

MISTAKES:

+ INSIDE THE BOAT:

1) The crew on the ship worked long shifts

2) In post-accident investigations alcoholic Captain Hazelwood been widely discussed

3) The ship was on autopilot, and then attempts to change the course were unsuccessful.

+ EXXON

1) The ship was manned by only 20 people at the time of the accident, personal enough for this type of vessel

+ COAST GUARD

1) This lost sight of the boat on their radar and not reported, thought it was equipment

failure.

FACTS: On March 24, 1989, in a storm, the American tanker Exxon Valdez, which is

180,000 tons of crude oil loading terminal in Valdez, separated from the navigation

corridor to avoid blocks of drifting ice. The commander orders the man in charge of

the tiller autopilot pass. Less than 30 minutes later, the ship runs aground at 12

knots on Blight Reef, located about ten feet deep, in the district of Prince-Williams,

important fishing area.

EFFECTS: It is impossible to accurately measure the effects of the disaster, "Exxon

Valdez" in the environment. It is even a heated and difficult debate closed.

An estimated 250,000 seabirds and about 2,800 sea otters (Enhydra lutris) were the

most notable victims of the disaster.

Other animals were affected seal populations, pink salmon, orcas and bald eagles,

excluding losses on invertebrates and small animals.

Another victim of the tragedy was the way of life of the peoples of the region. In a

survey published 10 years after the accident, between 50% and 80% of the people had

changed their habits to survive.

POLLUTION: During 1989, some 11,000 people, 1,000 vessels and 100 aircraft worked

for over four summers to minimize the impact of the spill the "Exxon Valdez", using

different methods to clean as quickly and as effectively as possible the damage. Tens of

thousands of volunteers and unprecedented media are mobilized (1,400 ships, 85

helicopters and 1,100 people) to save birds and marine mammals, and coastal beach

clean beach. In 1990, 1,100 people are still cleaning. This labor is expensive. Exxon

pays $ 1,000 per volunteer per week.

ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELPED WITH CLEANING

Specialists or EPA (Environmental Protection Agency of the United States) in the use of experimental bioremediation technologies attended spill cleanup.

or NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) was involved in providing weather forecasts for Prince William Sound, and let the cleaning crew adapt their methods to atmospheric conditions.

or specialists Hubbs Marine Institute in San Diego and the International Bird Research Center of Berkeley (California), established a center to clean and rehabilitate waterfowl.

EXXON EXPENDITURES: A June 1, 1989, ie three months after the grounding of the

tanker, the costs rise to $ 135 million. Amounted to $ 300 million in early July, and early

1996 amounted to 2,500 million.

These expenses are not in vain because in 3 years, 500 of the 800 km of coastline are

cleaned. However, residual contamination continues regularly affecting different species

and the consequences of the accident at 1989 on wildlife are certainly much higher than

the initial balance announcing 250,000 sea birds, 2,800 otters and seals 300 direct

victims of oil the Exxon Valdez.

REQUESTS: Exxon has already paid more than three billion dollars in damages. In

1991 ExxonMobil pleaded guilty to violating various environmental laws and paid over a

billion dollars in judgments. Since then, ExxonMobil, the largest oil company in the

world, has used its economic resources and power to avoid any future liability in this

case.

END