1989: The Exxon Valdez runs aground in Prince William Sound, spilling nearly 11 million gallons of crude oil across 1,300 miles of Alaskan coastline. In terms of environmental damage, it ranks among the worst man-made catastrophes ever, and one whose repercussions are felt to this day.

The Exxon Valdez, a single-hull oil tanker measuring nearly 1,000 feet long, was laden with 53 million gallons of crude. After clearing the Valdez Narrows, Master Joseph Hazelwood briefly resumed control of the ship from the port of Valdez harbor pilot.

Then he quit the wheel house, leaving the third mate and an able seaman to handle the ship. He picked a bad time to leave the bridge.

Exxon Valdez was outside the normal shipping lane in an effort to avoid icebergs. Hazelwood had obtained permission from the Coast Guard to change course, which also gave the Coast Guard shared responsibility for ensuring a safe passage. But the ship was not properly monitored and subsequently struck Bligh Reef while maneuvering toward open water just past midnight.

As captain, Hazelwood was ultimately responsible for what happened. Not only did he err in leaving the bridge at a critical moment, he compounded his mistake by handing control of the ship to two men who had not completed their mandatory six hours off duty before beginning a 12-hour watch. The vessel may have also been on autopilot when it hit the reef.

Worse, Hazelwood had been drinking. It remains unclear whether the alcohol impaired his judgment. He admitted during the inquiry to having had “two or three vodkas” earlier in the evening.

The collision tore a gash in the vessel’s hull. Before the leak could be stopped, 10.8 million gallons of crude oil oozed into Prince William Sound and began spreading along the coast.

The first cleanup crews attempted to use a combo of dispersant, surfactant and solvent to attack the oil globules, but the lack of wave action hindered that approach, which was soon abandoned.

Booms and skimmers were brought in, but most arrived after the spill had moved beyond the containment phase. When they were deployed, more than 24 hours after the Exxon Valdez ran aground, the combination of thick oil and large concentrations of kelp fouled much of the machinery.

High-pressure, hot-water hoses were turned on the rocks to disperse the oil. While this was effective in dispersing the oil, it also displaced or destroyed microbial organisms, upsetting the coastal marine food chain and adding to the environmental damage.

Attempts to limit the spill’s spread were further hampered by a storm that hit the area three days later.

Exxon, the oil giant that operated the ship, was roundly excoriated for its slow response to the crisis. When it finally did bestir itself to action, the company mounted what was then the costliest oil-spill cleanup effort in history.

The damage, however, was done.

In terms of volume, the Exxon Valdez spill is not even close to being the largest on record. But in terms of environmental impact, it may have been the worst. The sensitive marine habitat around Prince William Sound nestles inside jagged coastline, with many inlets and coves. This is where much of the oil collected, wreaking havoc on the rich variety of flora and fauna.

The statistics are grim. Upwards of half a million seabirds were killed outright by the spill. Scientists also counted among the dead 1,000 otters, 300 harbor seals, 250 bald eagles and 22 killer whales. The number of salmon and herring eggs destroyed was put in the billions.

More than 20 years on, most of the region has recovered, but not entirely. A 2007 study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimated that 26,000 gallons of crude oil still contaminates the coastline near Valdez. Some scientists believe it will be at least another decade before that stretch of the Alaskan coast returns to its natural state.

As for Hazelwood, he took the full brunt of America’s collective outrage, but somehow emerged relatively unscathed. His master’s license was suspended but not revoked, and in the end he paid a relatively paltry fine of $50,000. He was sentenced to 1,000 hours of community service, which was performed in Anchorage.

He has, however, had little luck finding further employment as a seagoing skipper.

Source: NOAA, Wikipedia

Photo: While the use of high-pressure sprays on rocks effectively helped move the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the Alaskan shoreline, it further damaged the ecosystem by destroying and displacing marine life. (Natalie Fobes/Corbis)

This article first appeared on Wired.com March 24, 2009.