S/R Mediterranean

The Exxon Valdez, traveling outside normal shipping lanes in an attempt to avoid ice, grounded on Bligh Reef and spilled 11 million gal of oil into the pristine waters of Prince William Sound, making it the most villified U.S. flag ship in modern times. The resulting spill, the worst in US history, would eventually impact over 1,100 miles of non-continuous coastline in Alaska, making the Exxon Valdez the largest oil spill to date in US waters. The response to the spill involved more personnel and equipment over a longer period of time than did any other spill in U. history and the ensuing cleanup and legal battle caused immense environmental and social damage, with recovery continuing slowly a decade later as Exxon continued to appeal the final court settlement. Captain Joseph Hazelwood, who had been drinking the night of the accident, left the bridge after leaving the tanker in command of Third Mate Gregory Cousins, who did not have the required pilot's licence to navigate the Sound. The company later refloated and repaired the ship, returning her to service as the Exxon Mediterranean. At the height of the response, more than 11,000 personnel, 1,400 vessels and 85 aircraft were involved in the cleanup. The Exxon Valdez oil spill aroused more media and public interest (both national and international) than any other spill in US history.

In 2012 this vessel was sold for scrap.