Spill prevention

ExxonMobil is committed to the prevention of spills from our operations. In 2008, the number of spills greater than one barrel was down by over 60 percent since 2001. Our total volume of hydrocarbons spilled in 2008 was about 20 thousand barrels, most of which was recovered at the site of the spill. Our industry-leading spill performance is a result of effective operations integrity management, ongoing upgrades, key equipment replacements, and comprehensive inspection and surveillance programs.

On March 24, 1989, the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound in Alaska. The company took immediate responsibility for the spill, cleaned it up, and voluntarily compensated more than 11,000 Alaskans and businesses who claimed direct damages. We have spent over $3.8 billion on compensation, clean-up efforts, and settlements and fines. The clean-up was declared complete by the State of Alaska and the U.S. Coast Guard in 1992. In June 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court set maximum punitive damages of $508 million in its ruling in the Valdez litigation, following a lengthy legal process.

We have worked hard over many years to address the impacts of the spill and to prevent such accidents from recurring. Our current maritime performance reflects this commitment.

In 2008, there were zero spills from ExxonMobil-operated vessels or those on long-term lease, sustaining an impressive performance trend. We consider this strong performance encouraging and it serves as a solid platform for continuous improvement efforts. ExxonMobil marine affiliates continue to receive external recognition for their long-standing, industry-leading safety and environmental performance.

Given the projected growth and important role that marine transportation plays in global commerce, ExxonMobil marine affiliates continue to find innovative ways to provide safe, secure, and reliable marine transportation. ExxonMobil marine affiliates are active participants in the development of important voluntary industry quality initiatives, including implementation of the Oil Companies International Marine Forum’s (OCIMF) Tanker Management and Self Assessment, a best practice guide for ship operators that complements existing quality standards. ExxonMobil marine affiliates are also working with OCIMF to expand the Ship Inspection Report Exchange (SIRE) program to barges. SIRE promotes a uniformly high standard of common inspections that may be used within vessel screening and inspection processes for member companies.