The Exxon Valdez oil spill

Answer 1

There was zero evidence that Captain Hazelwood was drunk during his time on the ship. He was not on duty during the collision either. The Third Mate was guiding the ship on autopilot.

The main cause according to the NTSB was the failure to repair the sonar that would have told the helmsman and third mate that the reef was coming up. There is no mention of alcohol being a factor in any NTSB report.

The ship ran aground and the rocks punctured the hull of the ship.

1. Sonar that should have been working was not.

2. The ship was taking a shortcut through very shallow waters with the Capt. downstairs and the needed equipment not functioning. (Sonar)

3. Cheap construction of the ship reducing a margin of safety. They used a single hull system to lower cost. This meant no protection for a single puncture. Double hull laws were soon enacted by the US after this disaster in hopes of preventing or reducing further oil disasters.

Answer 2

The Captain of the Exxon Valdez (Capt. Joseph Hazelwood) was never found to be drunk while on board the ship. He was not on duty when the ship ran aground either. That is a twisting of the facts at hand.

Actual issues were that the Third mate ( Gregory Cousins) failed to navigate through the Bligh Reef. Able Seaman Robert Kagan was at the helm. Both were legal and capable seamen.

Contributing factors to this horrible spill were Exxon's failure to repair Sonar equipment, and possible over work of the Third Mate.

Joseph Hazelwood was found at his home drunk that night. After creating the terrible events of that day, I am not sure I would not have had a drink myself!

Answer 3

It was the second largest oil spill in the United States! Other spills were larger, but in terms of eco-system destruction, this one is debatably up there!

As of June 18,2010, if we assume that the leak will remain as it is now, this will become the largest oil leak of all time. At current growth rate it will also become the world's largest man induced disaster.

The slow pace of the United States to deal with the issue is not helping reduce the issue.

Answer 4

The Exxon Valdez happened over a series of disasters the radar didn't work the ship was on auto pilot and the captain hired some one who didn't know how to drive the ship and put them in charge and it spil.

The above answer has problems. The radar was fine. Radar is used to see weather and oncoming traffic. Sonar is used to measure depth. This was required to navigate shallow waters and did not function.

Another issue was the single hull system that was used to build the ship. Basically it is a very large single tank. The slightest hit to the hull and all of the oil would spill. A safer practice would be to have the ship with a protective inner tank so it would require a harder hit to cause a spill. Multiple tanks also reduce oil flow if the system is compromised.

The Captain, despite many rumors, was not found to be drunk at the time of the accident. He was not even on the bridge. The third mate and helmsman were in charge of the ship at the time of the hit. The individuals that were in charge of the bridge during the hit were legal and competent to have been in charge, The Captain is not in charge of hiring the crew.

Answer 5

Exxon Valdez is the oil spill by the tanker Exxon-Valdez in Alaska.

The Exxon Valdez was the worst oil spill in recent US history until the 2010 BP oil spill. Wikipedia has an excellent summary of the accident, and subsequent efforts to clean up the spill. There are many links on the internet, plus a number of books have been written on the subject.

See related link.

Answer 6

It was outside of the shipping lanes when it ran aground.

Answer 7

the oil spilled and people died

Answer 8

A massive oil spill.