Oil Tanker Spills: Exxon Valdez Oil Tankers

On March 24, one of Exxon Valdez’s oil tankers hit the Prince William Sound’s Bligh Reef in Alaska. Over a few days, about 10.8 million gallons of oil spilled into the water affecting over 1,000 miles of shoreline. A report from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council outlines five possible causes of this industrial accident. Among the five possible causes outlined, two identify sleep deprivation and fatigue as a possible contributing factor. The first possible cause is a failure to properly maneuver the vessel due to excessive workload or fatigue. Other reports claim that the […]