Joseph J. Hazelwood

Joseph J. Hazelwood was the American ship captain of the Exxon Valdez tanker. In March 1989, the ship ran aground on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska, causing a massive oil spill of nearly 11 million gallons of crude oil. This incident led to significant ecological damage, polluting 1,300 miles of shoreline and harming wildlife such as bald eagles, harbor seals, and sea otters. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) cited the crew's failures and inadequate traffic regulation by the U.S. Coast Guard as causes for the spill. Evidence suggested Hazelwood had been drinking prior to the accident, resulting in his termination by Exxon. The spill prompted the passage of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, establishing procedures for future spills and liabilities.1