Exxon Oil Spill

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The Exxon-Valdez Oil Spill: The Catastrophic Consequences of Negligence The Exxon-Valdez oil spill of 1987 is the second largest oil spill in United States history. The damages, which occurred at Bligh Reef, Alaska, caused “a total loss of 258,000 barrels of crude oil (30 764 041.6 L)” (NTSB 27). Also, “150km of shoreline was covered with heavy amounts crude oil and 460km lightly covered” (Short, Rice, and Lindeberg). The factors that played a significant role in this accident including the master’s negligence, excessive workloads of the crew and lack of preparation by Exxon and Alyeska in case of an oil spill. These are the causes to this catastrophic accident. The master of the tanker Exxon-Valdez, poor choices had directly influenced the tanker’s grounding, which caused the oil spill. The master’s first mistake was leaving the bridge when the Exxon-Valdez had taken a detour out off the proper trade lanes to avoid ice. According to the National Safety Board of Transportation’s report, “the master was the only officer on board who possessed the required Federal pilotage endorsement, he was required by Federal law and regulations to be on the bridge” (NTSB 116). The master knew that he was suppose to be on the bridge while travelling the Valdez Narrows even if the risky detour was not taken. The master than left the bridge, which is against Exxon’s regulations and also breaks a federal law. The master was also known to be an alcoholic. During the day of the crash, it was reported he had several drinks at various times throughout the day. At the time the master chose to make the detour, right before he left the bridge, he was showing signs of impairment. The report states “the master's speech at 2325 was uncharacteristically slower and less fluent than it had been about 2130 (Shortly after leaving port), when the ship's agent spoke with him on the VHF/FM radio.
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