Oil Spill

Connected Sites: 5

WHS that have been hit by significant oil spill after their inscription.

Connected Sites

  • The Sundarbans
    The Sundarbans
    Bangladesh
    Inscribed: 1997
    2.82
    30
    2
    small coastal oil tanker sank after being rammed by another vessel from behind, releasing approximately 400,000 liters of oil in the water (2014)
    See whc.unesco.org
  • East Rennell
    East Rennell
    Solomon Islands
    Inscribed: 1998
    3.14
    2
    3
    "On 4 February 2019, the bulk carrier MV Solomon Trader ran aground in Kangava Bay, Rennell Island, while loading bauxite ore. While the grounding and consecutive oil spill occurred just outside the World Heritage property, there is concern for a possible impact on the World Heritage site and the livelihoods of the local communities."
    See whc.unesco.org
  • West Norwegian Fjords
    West Norwegian Fjords
    Norway
    Inscribed: 2005
    4.21
    224
    9
    large amount of oil has leaked from a cruise ship in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Geiranger fjord (2009)
    See seattletimes.com
  • Olympic National Park
    Olympic National Park
    United States of America
    Inscribed: 1981
    3.86
    140
    8
    "The park has suffered two large oil spills from offshore shipping since 1988 and remains vulnerable to such accident" (Coastal WHS book), once in 1991.
    See www.nytimes.com
  • Gough and Inaccessible Islands
    Gough and Inaccessible Islands
    United Kingdom
    Inscribed: 1995
    2.55
    8
    3
    oil from the wrecked freighter 'Oliva' ... reached Inaccessible Island (2011)
    See oceandoctor.org