What event is recognized as the first major "super spill" of oil?

The first major "super spill" of oil is recognized as the Torrey Canyon incident. This event occurred in March 1967 when the oil tanker Torrey Canyon ran aground off the coast of Cornwall, England, spilling approximately 119,000 tons of crude oil into the sea. This disaster highlighted the severe environmental consequences of oil spills and prompted changes in maritime laws and response strategies.

The Torrey Canyon spill was notable because it was one of the first instances that drew significant media attention and public concern about the ramifications of oil spills on marine ecology and coastal communities. It was not only a major environmental disaster, but it also represented a turning point in how oil spills were perceived and managed globally. The incident led to increased regulations regarding oil shipping and spurred developments in spill response techniques.

Other events such as the Exxon Valdez spill, which occurred in 1989, are significant as well, but they came after the Torrey Canyon incident and are thus considered part of the ongoing evolution of understanding and managing oil spills, rather than the initial event that sparked massive awareness and regulatory changes in the industry. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) was a legislative response resulting from the Exxon Valdez spill and aimed to prevent future