Exxon ValdezExxon Valdez

By Larry & BradBy Larry & Brad

Name & LocationName & Location

The Exxon Valdez was a ship that was carrying around 200 million litres of crude oil. At around 12:04am on March 24th 1989, the Exxon Valdez ran aground at Prince William Sound Bligh Reef, in Alaska and spilled around 40.9 million litres of this oil.

The Exxon Valdez was a ship that was carrying around 200 million litres of crude oil. At around 12:04am on March 24th 1989, the Exxon Valdez ran aground at Prince William Sound Bligh Reef, in Alaska and spilled around 40.9 million litres of this oil.

What happened?What happened? 9.13 pm, March 24th 1989,

the Exxon Valdez was bound for Long Beach in California. The shipping lane was at the time obstructed by icebergs, so the Shipmaster asked, and was granted permission to use the inbound lane.Around 11 pm, Shipmaster left the Third mate and another shipmate at the helm. The ship was on autopilot and about 12 pm, the Exxon Valdez struck Bligh Reef. Around 41 million litres of crude oil was spilled.

9.13 pm, March 24th 1989, the Exxon Valdez was bound for Long Beach in California. The shipping lane was at the time obstructed by icebergs, so the Shipmaster asked, and was granted permission to use the inbound lane.Around 11 pm, Shipmaster left the Third mate and another shipmate at the helm. The ship was on autopilot and about 12 pm, the Exxon Valdez struck Bligh Reef. Around 41 million litres of crude oil was spilled.

What caused the accident?

What caused the accident?

The Exxon Valdez encountered icebergs in the shipping lanes and Captain Hazelwood ordered Claar to take the Exxon Valdez out of the shipping lanes to go around the ice. He then handed over control of the wheelhouse to Third Mate Gregory Cousins with precise instructions to turn back into the shipping lanes when the tanker reached a certain point. At that time, Claar was replaced by Helmsman Robert Kagan. For reasons that remain unclear, Cousins and Kagan failed to make the turn back into the shipping lanes and the ship ran aground on Bligh Reef at 12:04 a.m., March 24, 1989. Captain Hazelwood was in his quarters at the time.

The Exxon Valdez encountered icebergs in the shipping lanes and Captain Hazelwood ordered Claar to take the Exxon Valdez out of the shipping lanes to go around the ice. He then handed over control of the wheelhouse to Third Mate Gregory Cousins with precise instructions to turn back into the shipping lanes when the tanker reached a certain point. At that time, Claar was replaced by Helmsman Robert Kagan. For reasons that remain unclear, Cousins and Kagan failed to make the turn back into the shipping lanes and the ship ran aground on Bligh Reef at 12:04 a.m., March 24, 1989. Captain Hazelwood was in his quarters at the time.

Who is involved?Who is involved?

Shipmaster Joseph Jeffrey Hazelwood

The Coast Guard Third Mate Gregory

Cousins Able Seaman Robert

Kagan Exxon Valdez ExxonMobil

Shipmaster Joseph Jeffrey Hazelwood

The Coast Guard Third Mate Gregory

Cousins Able Seaman Robert

Kagan Exxon Valdez ExxonMobil

Consequences - OilConsequences - Oil Many consequences came from

this large oil spill.Most of the oil was released within 6 hours of running aground and the trend was that the oil moved south and west from the point of origin and for the first few days predominately all the oil was sitting just off Bligh Island in a concentrated patch. On March 26th a large storm weathered and spread the oil over a large area, so by March 30th the oil extended 90 miles from the spill site. From Bligh Reef, the spill stretched 470 miles southwest to the village of Chignik on the Alaskan Peninsular.

Many consequences came from this large oil spill.Most of the oil was released within 6 hours of running aground and the trend was that the oil moved south and west from the point of origin and for the first few days predominately all the oil was sitting just off Bligh Island in a concentrated patch. On March 26th a large storm weathered and spread the oil over a large area, so by March 30th the oil extended 90 miles from the spill site. From Bligh Reef, the spill stretched 470 miles southwest to the village of Chignik on the Alaskan Peninsular.

Consequences - OilConsequences - Oil Approximately 1,300 miles of

shoreline were oiled. 200 miles were heavily or moderately oiled. The spill region contained 9,000 miles of shoreline. Due to the Spring tidal fluctuations the tides were coming up higher than normal depositing oil above the normal zone on the shoreline. Also the variation in shoreline meant that the oil did different things making the clean up difficult.

Approximately 1,300 miles of shoreline were oiled. 200 miles were heavily or moderately oiled. The spill region contained 9,000 miles of shoreline. Due to the Spring tidal fluctuations the tides were coming up higher than normal depositing oil above the normal zone on the shoreline. Also the variation in shoreline meant that the oil did different things making the clean up difficult.

Consequences - Ecosystem

Consequences - Ecosystem

Marine Mammals and seabirds, due to their regular contact with the ocean surface are the most affected by the oil slick. Oiling of fur and feathers can lead to death through loss of insulation, hyperthermia, smothering, drowning, and ingestion of toxic hydrocabons. Scientists estimate mass mortalities of 1000 to 2800 sea otters, 302 harbor seals, and unprecedented numbers of seabird deaths estimated at 250,000 in the days immediately after the oil spill. Mass mortality also occurred among macroalgae and benthic invertebrates on oiled shores from a combination of chemical toxicity, smothering, and physical displacement from the habitat by pressurized wash-water applied after the spill.

Marine Mammals and seabirds, due to their regular contact with the ocean surface are the most affected by the oil slick. Oiling of fur and feathers can lead to death through loss of insulation, hyperthermia, smothering, drowning, and ingestion of toxic hydrocabons. Scientists estimate mass mortalities of 1000 to 2800 sea otters, 302 harbor seals, and unprecedented numbers of seabird deaths estimated at 250,000 in the days immediately after the oil spill. Mass mortality also occurred among macroalgae and benthic invertebrates on oiled shores from a combination of chemical toxicity, smothering, and physical displacement from the habitat by pressurized wash-water applied after the spill.

Consequences - EconomicConsequences - Economic Recreational Sport Fishing Losses -

Estimated loss of under $580 million in 1989 and between $3.6 and $50.5 million in 1990.

Tourism losses - 59% of business in major affected areas received cancellations

Severe Job shortage due to original industry workers seeking high paying clean up jobs

Lack in tourists due to a shortage of services e.g. water taxi.

Cost of bird and animal relocation and rehabilitation

Recreational Sport Fishing Losses - Estimated loss of under $580 million in 1989 and between $3.6 and $50.5 million in 1990.

Tourism losses - 59% of business in major affected areas received cancellations

Severe Job shortage due to original industry workers seeking high paying clean up jobs

Lack in tourists due to a shortage of services e.g. water taxi.

Cost of bird and animal relocation and rehabilitation

Responses / ResolutionsResponses / Resolutions Tugs were sent to stabilize

vessel immediately A boom was deployed within

35hours of grounding Dispersant treatments were

successfully deployed although due to the storm the oil had mostly turned into a mousse which is not affected by the dispersants.

Sorbents were used to recover oil in places where mechanical instruments were not practical.

The oil that remained on the Valdez was quickly offloaded and repairs were made to prevent further spillage.

Tugs were sent to stabilize vessel immediately

A boom was deployed within 35hours of grounding

Dispersant treatments were successfully deployed although due to the storm the oil had mostly turned into a mousse which is not affected by the dispersants.

Sorbents were used to recover oil in places where mechanical instruments were not practical.

The oil that remained on the Valdez was quickly offloaded and repairs were made to prevent further spillage.

Responses - ShorelineResponses - Shoreline In 1989, hoses spraying

seawater were used to flush oil from shorelines. The released oil was then trapped with offshore boom, and removed using skimmers and vacuum trucks. For hard to reach areas, or locations with weathered oil, heated seawater was used to flush oil from the shoreline.

Manual cleanup was a big part of the shoreline treatment

The process cleaned up 25,000 tons of oiled waste.

In 1989, hoses spraying seawater were used to flush oil from shorelines. The released oil was then trapped with offshore boom, and removed using skimmers and vacuum trucks. For hard to reach areas, or locations with weathered oil, heated seawater was used to flush oil from the shoreline.

Manual cleanup was a big part of the shoreline treatment

The process cleaned up 25,000 tons of oiled waste.

Lessons LearntLessons Learnt

Clean-up attempts can be more damaging than the oil itself

Oil that penetrates deeply into beaches can remain relatively fresh for years and can later come back to the surface and affect nearby animals.

Rocky rubble shores should be of high priority for protection and cleanup because oil tends to penetrate deep and weather very slowly

Clean-up attempts can be more damaging than the oil itself

Oil that penetrates deeply into beaches can remain relatively fresh for years and can later come back to the surface and affect nearby animals.

Rocky rubble shores should be of high priority for protection and cleanup because oil tends to penetrate deep and weather very slowly

The U.S. Coast Guard now monitors fully-laden tankers via satellite as they pass through Valdez Narrows

Two escort vessels accompany each tanker while passing through the entire Sound

Specially trained marine pilots, with considerable experience in Prince William Sound, board tankers from their new pilot station at Bligh Reef

Congress enacted Congress enacted legislation requiring that all tankers in Prince William Sound be double-hulled by the year 2015legislation requiring that all tankers in Prince William Sound be double-hulled by the year 2015

Contingency planning for oil spills in Prince William Sound must now include a scenario for a spill of 12.6 million gallons. Drills are held in the Sound each year.

The U.S. Coast Guard now monitors fully-laden tankers via satellite as they pass through Valdez Narrows

Two escort vessels accompany each tanker while passing through the entire Sound

Specially trained marine pilots, with considerable experience in Prince William Sound, board tankers from their new pilot station at Bligh Reef

Congress enacted Congress enacted legislation requiring that all tankers in Prince William Sound be double-hulled by the year 2015legislation requiring that all tankers in Prince William Sound be double-hulled by the year 2015

Contingency planning for oil spills in Prince William Sound must now include a scenario for a spill of 12.6 million gallons. Drills are held in the Sound each year.

BibliographyBibliography

http://www.eoearth.org/article/exxon_valdez_oil_spill

http://www.eoearth.org/article/exxon_valdez_oil_spill