Transportation History

The Exxon Valdez oil spill , which occurred in Prince William Sound Alaska , did not only have a direct effect on future oil transportation issues , but it devastated the coastal environment along southern Alaska 's shore . Following the spill , oil spread over an 11 ,000 square mile area , making this the largest environmental catastrophe caused by man ever to occur at sea

Summary of the Spill

The oil Tanker Exxon Valdez spilled over 10 .8 million gallons of oil into the waters of Prince William Sound on March 24 , 1989 , after which

the currents and waves washed the oil out to sea and in to shore killing millions of marine organisms and birds . After unsuccessful cleanup methods and attempts , the United States Coast Guard had to resort to skimming the oil off of the water , which proved strenuous , and was made even more difficult by unsatisfactory weather conditions . Exxon was widely criticized for its lethargic attitude when it came to assisting in the cleanup , as the coast guard started the efforts without any help from the oil company

Impact on the Environment

The environmental damages caused by the spill were devastating . Marine life was significantly altered , and much life in the area still shows some of the effects of the spill today . According to studies performed after the spill by the National Transportation Safety Board and environmental groups , millions of fish were killed , and between a quarter and half a million seabirds , over a thousand otters , 250 bald eagles , 22 orcas...