Jenevieve (Exxon Valdez Oil Spill in Alaska)

The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the accident and determined that the probable causes were:

-The failure of the third mate to properly maneuver the vessel, possibly due to fatigue and excessive workload

-The failure of the master to provide a proper navigation watch, possibly due to impairment from alcohol

-The failure of Exxon Shipping Company to supervise the master and provide a rested and sufficient crew for the Exxon Valdez

-The failure of the U.S. Coast Guard to provide an effective vessel traffic system

-The lack of effective pilot and escort services.

During the time of accident, Exxon Valdez was carrying 200 million liters of crude oil, out of which it spilled around 40 million liters into the sea. As a result, approximately 1,990 square kilometers of shoreline was badly polluted.

Marine and wild lives were the hardest hit by the oil spill. Lives of millions of fishes almost came to a standstill. Some were killed by eating oil contaminated food, while others were starved to death because of the spoiling of plankton and larva on which they were dependent. 

Moreover, the thick layer of oil on the surface disrupted the whole marine life beneath it. 

Beaches and coastal lines were also greatly affected. The life style of the people of the region completely changed. The fishing industry came to a sudden standstill. Many sea birds and animals were washed to the shore, some in dying condition and other already dead. Some of the species such as harbor seals, pink salmon, and sea otters were suddenly invisible. In total, more than 20 types of birds and animals were affected by the oil spill, whose effect is still observed today in many of them. They also spent about $2.1 billion on the cleanup effort.