Yes, I read about this event but was more concerned at the time about the loss of life, including two rescuers who went down with their helicopter. The storm made surface rescue too dangerous and so the helio-rescue attempt. The ship broke apart at the height of the storm.

Sorry about damage from the spilled crude.

Isn't it awful! I guess we were luckier no humans lost their lives from the Delaware river oil spill. I wonder if a double hull tanker could have prevented these spills or if there could have been a safer(maybe more expensive route)for these tankers to make. Some good news from the Delaware oil spill atleast, although we lost alot of birds most of the rescued ones survived and the first batch were released this week in Maryland. Sarah

I too have a heavy heart for the alaskan coastliners and its ecosystems. Must not help this time of the year when day light is almost nill.

Just a point of clarification. The ship that broke apart in the Bering Sea was not a crude oil tanker. It was a cargo ship. As I understand it, the hydrocarbon products that entered the sea were diesel and bunker oil, essentially fuel from the ship, not crude oil. This could have happened with any ship and has nothing to do with crude oil shipping.

The spill in the Delaware River did involve crude oil and I am dismayed that they still allow what appears to have been a single hulled tanker to enter that shallow water area. Single hulled tankers should be phased out as they are replaced in my opinion, but in the meantime they should be used primarily for deepwater offloading, rather than close to shore where spills potentially can cause far more environmental and wildlife damage, not to mention danger.

At the risk of appearing to harp on a dead subject: Joseph Hazelwood(captain of the Exxon Valdez)still walks amoung us. Caused a lot of misery and death, but never did a day of jail time. 10.8 million gallons of crude oil spilled and fouled many miles of coastline. That same ship was re-named the SeaRiver Mediterranean and cruises the Atlantic today, even though Exxon has petitioned to let it resume its old route. It never has been refitted with a double hull.
Monte is right: all tankers should be double hulled and any that are not should never enter shoal water. Maybe officers in charge should be checked for knowledge/sobriety before assuming the bridge.
Just one old Navy guy talking.
Steve

I guess what happened in Alaska was a fluke like the titanic? Today after several hours of training I was able to assist in the cleaning of the wildlife went thru alot of dawn!!! Sarah

Much air pollution today from an Arkansas waste treatment center , no one hurt - but many evacuated from their homes and as of yet can not return.

It seems this center collected waste pesticides and chemicals to burn in an incenerator, there were loud sounds and thick dark smokes. Investigation is still under way and the cause is still not known nor what is being released into the air as pollutants.

Here is a link that might be useful: Arkansas waste treatment center faulters