Government or official record
Marine Accident Report: Exxon Valdez
National Transportation Safety Board
Where this source supports the record
Each entry separates the article’s editorial relevance note from its exact, section-level claims. A bibliography link without a direct claim is labeled plainly.
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Engineering failures · 24 March 1989Open article references →
The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Bligh Reef grounding site and Prince William Sound spill area · United States
Why editors use it hereDefinitive transportation investigation of navigation, staffing, traffic systems, and response preparedness.
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Quick read
Just after midnight on 24 March 1989, the tanker Exxon Valdez struck Bligh Reef in Alaska's Prince William Sound and spilled about 11 million gallons of crude oil.
Reviewed 26 July 2026 -
Trigger and conditions
The tanker left its traffic lane to avoid ice.
Reviewed 26 July 2026 -
Uncertainty
The official estimate is 10.8–11 million gallons, based on tank calculations rather than direct measurement.
Reviewed 26 July 2026 -
Why it matters
Exxon Valdez shows that prevention and first-hour readiness matter more than spectacular cleanup once oil enters complex coastlines.
Reviewed 26 July 2026
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Quick read