On March 23, 1989, the Exxon Valdez tanker, carrying approximately 53 million gallons (about 201,000 metric tons) of oil, departed from Alaska to deliver its cargo to the West Coast of the United States.
In the evening, the vessel deviated from the main navigation channel.
Around midnight, the ship struck Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound.
The impact caused a breach in the ship’s hull, leading to a massive spill of crude oil into the waters of Prince William Sound.
It was estimated that nearly 11 million gallons (approximately 41 million liters) of oil were discharged into the sea.