The 80s being the decade that refuses to go away is usually a good thing, especially when it comes to the music. However, one story from 1989 has just made an unwelcome return.

Exxon Valdez.

The 30,000 ton oil tanker hit Bligh Reef, Alaska spilling more than it’s own weight in crude oil into a remote bay. The environmental disaster devastated wildlife and fishing along a 2,000 kilometres stretch of coastline.

Although the clean up operation was successful and largely wound up in 1992, it was based on projections of how quickly the remaining oil would disperse naturally. The latest research, however, suggests that up to half the original spill may still remain below the gravel.

A lack of oxygen and ‘oil eating’ micro-organisms is the problem, a research team is currently working on the solution.

The tanker itself survived the incident and is also still with us, renamed several times,

it’s now known as Dong Fang Ocean