On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez, an Exxon Shipping Company oil tanker, spilled 10.8 million US gallons (40.9 million L) of crude oil into Prince William Sound, Alaska, causing one of the most devastating man-made environmental disasters in history.
The spill is regarded as one of the worst in terms of environmental devastation, and it is expected that the area will take decades to fully recover.In 2008, the Exxon Valdez was sold to Hong Kong Bloom maritime Ltd, a Chinese maritime firm, and renamed the Dong Fang Ocean. Even 25 years after the leak, the ship is still in operation.
The Exxon Valdez oil disaster wreaked havoc on the ecosystem and fauna of Prince William Sound. An estimated 250,000 to 500,000 birds, 2,800 sea otters, 300 harbor seals, 250 bald eagles, and 22 orcas, as well as numerous fish and other species, were killed in the spill. The oil also had an impact on 1,300 miles (2,100 kilometers) of coastline, including beaches, estuaries, and wetlands.
The spill's long-term consequences are still being felt today. The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, which was formed to oversee the cleanup and rehabilitation of the impacted area, has spent more than a billion dollars on cleanup and restoration activities. However, more work remains to be done in order to fully restore the region.
The Exxon Valdez oil spill was a disaster that had long-term consequences for the ecosystem and fauna of Prince William Sound. The ship that triggered the leak is still in service 25 years later, serving as a reminder of the damage that oil spills can inflict.