@WoWSoka
as someone who spent 10 years of my life working for ExxonMobil i can confirm that the company still internally blames "a drunk sailor" for the Exxon Valdez when the reality of the situation is Exxon had very shady company practices, pushed crews too hard, demanded too much, and cut too many corners. something was bound to break and this was the result.
@DanielJohnson-ps4xv
I’m in the petroleum transportation industry and have sailed in and out of Valdez multiple times to load and discharge to a tank farm. This incident has been the cause of many regulations. Double hulls are the requirement now for all tank ships and barges I’m aware of now. Multiple companies ran single hull vessels right up the the deadline . The oil companies will lobby hard for more relaxed regulations. I personally have no issue with being held to high standards on environmental safety.
@jonathansmyth3064
I was a kid when this happened. My dad was stationed USCG Valdez. I was 6. He was the storekeeper. I remember going down the harbor and seeing the dead wildlife everywhere. It was one of the saddest events I have ever seen. We weren't allowed to help with the cleaning of animals since I was 6 and my brother was 7. My mother did the grueling task of cleaning birds. She would come home and cry. I never knew the whole story till now. Thank you. I never knew how or why this happened. Once again keep up the amazing investigative research in making these videos.
@jda7499
Hi there, I actually sailed on the Exxon Valdez then named “ S/R Mediterranean “ and then “ Mediterranean “ as Chief Mate in 2006 and also docked her in Dubai. I was a ExxonMobil Cadet in 1995 and she was transferred from the US fleet to Asia Fleet in 2003. The chair used by the Captain was locked up in the Bridge aft locker and still remains there since 1986. One of the most different ships i have sailed on - built in 1986 in USA and only ever meant to trade Alaska - California she was difficult to load and discharge in conventional ports being having the Ring Main System of crude oil tanker piping. She was finally scrapped in 2009/10 not sure of the year but in China. Rgds Capt JD
@stephenbritton9297
I've worked with people who had worked on the VALDEZ, but not on at time of the accident, and people who were on the BATON ROUGE. I also did a lot of research into this accident when I was in college. There is SOOO much more. It is likely that Cousins didn't turn the Iron Mike off, and that Kagan (the helmsman) was trying to hand steer while on the autopilot (unlike a plane, manual inputs on a ship do not over ride the auto pilot). As such, all tankers are no required to have an alarm that sounds if you turn the wheel while on autopilot. Hazelwood was a great seaman but not a good manager of people. To him, the maneuver he left Cousins to perform was simple, but he didn't understand that Cousins had limited experience and was extremely fatigued and as such, it was dangerous to leave him alone to conduct the departure.
@artemishallihan8973
I appreciate the very subtle shade thrown at the end. Delivered entirely by tone and facts at how much damage Exxon did and how little accountability they took.
@foximacentauri7891
It is almost comical how ruthless exon, shell & other oil companies are. Using cheap but risky ship designs, lying about the contamination, delaying fines for so long that they’re worth just a fraction of what they should’ve been.
@Meipmeep
I have friends who are still affected by this in Alaska, it’s shameful that people who were kids when it happened are still suffering the consequences
@willpugh8865
I appreciate the effort you put into your videos , the illustrations, your narration , and neutral unbiased presentation of the facts are top notch keep up the great work
@keywestjj
I have never bought an Exxon or Mobil product since that day. I know ... I'm only one consumer, but if everyone had done this they would just be a footnote of history.
@ComradeCatpurrnicus
It's disgusting how much exploitation, suffering, and destruction comes out of corporate greed and those in power unwillingly to regulate them. It doesn't matter to them how many lives are lost and mistreated, it doesn't matter to them if they're making the planet unlivable. All they care about are profits.
@ssenssel
Even though I'm old enough to remember Exxon Valdez accident I never knew the details of it. So thanks again for another great video. 👏👏
@jacekatalakis8316
And in the early 90s, or mid 90s, the Unabomber took out someone who helped Exxon with their PR as well after this incident as well, and cited this as the reason why, IIRC
@alysiagould8986
I moved to Alaska in 2000 and most of my friends I met that were from out of state had came up for the Valdez clean up and just ended up staying. The stories were crazy and the pics smuggled out were absolutely UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!
@jbusta8548
Valdez is the gift that keeps on giving
@sykoteddy
Watching a lot of these short documentaries only makes me come to conclude what I sadly already knew, the more money and power you have, the more you are pushing for. No matter if it is a company or a person.
@Ted_II
It's become clear to me from watching these videos that the problem is not that we need to "just stop oil" but that the problem is cascading negligence by operators and decision-makers leading to catastrophic failures. The problem is largely complacency and negligence. "Every catastrophic event is preceded by a cascading series of failures." -Dale McConnell
@brainsurfer7027
This video does an excellent job of shedding light on the tragic Exxon Valdez oil spill and its long-lasting impact on the environment and communities. It’s a stark reminder of how important it is to prioritize safety and environmental responsibility. Thank you for creating such a comprehensive and informative piece—it’s a crucial part of keeping these lessons alive. Let’s hope it inspires more awareness and action towards preventing future disasters like this.
@zimmerman1031
Infuriating. These companies are untouchable.
@waterlinestories