Although our efforts are focused on smaller vessels, the fact remains that whenever a boat sinks, the resulting impact affects wildlife and humans. This article will discuss large-scale sinkings, but the impact is felt when any boat sinks in our critical coastal waterways.
Accidents involving oil tankers or drilling rigs can cause huge oil spills and make international news, but they’re not the only source of oil contamination in the world’s oceans.
According to a 2013 report released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there are at least 87 sunken ships in U.S. waters that pose a serious environmental concern due to the oil leaks. These ships, which sunk at various points over the past century, still house millions of gallons of oil, held in corroding tanks at risk of failure.
In 1943, the Gulfstate was hit by a German U-boat and sank off the Florida Keys. The incident became known as one of the most dangerous wrecks in the world. Researchers fear that the ship, which was carrying 3.5 million gallons of bunker oil, could still be leaking. It could affect areas as far away as North Carolina.
The USS Arizona was hit by a Japanese submarine on December 7, 1941. It was carrying about
1.5 million gallons of bunker oil. The oil spill from the USS Arizona Memorial, which is located near Honolulu, is gradually leaking into the harbor. It has been nicknamed “black tears” by visitors.
The Argo was a tank barge that sank in October 1937. It was carrying over 200,000 gallons of oil and a chemical known as benzol. After detecting the smell of oil on the surface, the Coast Guard confirmed that the ship was leaking. Underwater experts removed about 30,000 gallons of water and oil to minimize the wreck’s environmental impact.
In May 1942, the Joseph Cudahy oil tanker was hit by a torpedo from a German submarine in the
Gulf of Mexico. The ship sank from the hit and the wreck is located about 145 feet below the sea’s floor. For many years since the sinking, oil slicks have developed around the vessel.
The W.E. Hutton was a steam tanker that sank in 1942 after it was hit by a torpedo. It was discovered that leaking from its hull caused the incident. After a fisherman discovered a hole in the hull of the sunken tanker, the US Coast Guard confirmed that the was leaking from the vessel.
The Edmund Fitzgerald’s sinking in 1975 is one of the Great Lakes’ most notable shipwrecks. It sank in 1848, and it still has oil leaking from its tanks.
A freighter, which was carrying supplies for the Korean War, sank in 1953. It was the worst oil spill in California history.
“Mysterious” oil spills that occurred from 1990 to 2003 killed over 50,000 birds. Researchers believe the culprit was the freighter, Jacob Luckenbach.
Some of these sunken ships, like the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor, are already leaking oil. Others have been leaking oil sporadically over the years, despite attempts to extract the oil and patch holes. Many are World War II-era tankers that have not leaked oil yet but threaten to do so because of their age and the vast oil reserves on board.
Wounded Nature-Working Veterans has been working to clean our critical coastal areas for over ten years. Please see our Past Accomplishments page to view some of our efforts.
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