The Atlantic Empress tanker spilled 287 thousand metric tons of oil off Tobago in 1979. This was the largest oil tanker disaster by quantity of spilled oil since 1967. By comparison, during the ABT Summer oil tanker spill that occurred in 1991, some 260 thousand metric tons of oil was spilled off of the coast of Angola. At the time of the disaster, the vessel had serviced the maritime oil cargo industry for almost 18 years.
Largest oil tanker disasters worldwide between 1967 and 2024, by quantity of spilled oil
(in 1,000 metric tons)
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Largest oil tanker disasters worldwide between 1967 and 2024, by quantity of spilled oil
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ITOPF. (January 28, 2025). Largest oil tanker disasters worldwide between 1967 and 2024, by quantity of spilled oil (in 1,000 metric tons) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 13, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/262790/oil-tanker-disasters-by-quantity-of-spilled-oil/
ITOPF. "Largest oil tanker disasters worldwide between 1967 and 2024, by quantity of spilled oil (in 1,000 metric tons)." Chart. January 28, 2025. Statista. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/262790/oil-tanker-disasters-by-quantity-of-spilled-oil/
ITOPF. (2025). Largest oil tanker disasters worldwide between 1967 and 2024, by quantity of spilled oil (in 1,000 metric tons). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 13, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/262790/oil-tanker-disasters-by-quantity-of-spilled-oil/
ITOPF. "Largest Oil Tanker Disasters Worldwide between 1967 and 2024, by Quantity of Spilled Oil (in 1,000 Metric Tons)." Statista, Statista Inc., 28 Jan 2025, https://www.statista.com/statistics/262790/oil-tanker-disasters-by-quantity-of-spilled-oil/
ITOPF, Largest oil tanker disasters worldwide between 1967 and 2024, by quantity of spilled oil (in 1,000 metric tons) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/262790/oil-tanker-disasters-by-quantity-of-spilled-oil/ (last visited May 13, 2025)
Largest oil tanker disasters worldwide between 1967 and 2024, by quantity of spilled oil (in 1,000 metric tons) [Graph], ITOPF, January 28, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/262790/oil-tanker-disasters-by-quantity-of-spilled-oil/
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