Which oil tanker ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska in 1989?

Which oil tanker ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska, in 1989? The tanker was Exxon Valdez.

On March 24, 1989, Exxon Valdez struck Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound while carrying crude oil from the Valdez Marine Terminal toward Long Beach, California. The grounding caused one of the most consequential environmental disasters in U.S. history, releasing roughly 10.8 million U.S. gallons of crude into Alaskan waters and shorelines.

The vessel was owned and operated by Exxon Shipping Company and was captained by Joseph Hazelwood. The spill damaged a vast coastal ecosystem, affecting seabirds, sea otters, seals, salmon, and other wildlife. Cleanup operations continued for years, while the disaster prompted major changes in U.S. oil-spill prevention and response rules, including provisions of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.

The tanker was later renamed several times, including Exxon Mediterranean and SeaRiver Mediterranean, so “Exxon Valdez” specifically identifies its name at the time of the grounding. Prestige, Amoco Cadiz, and Torrey Canyon were also infamous tankers, but they were involved in different spills and locations.