in this spill, the tanker's captain

in this spill, the tanker's captain, who was tired from overwork and drinking alcohol, had gone to take a rest. he gave control of the ship to another sailor, who was unfamiliar with the route the ship was taking. the ship ran onto Bligh reef, a natural underwater rock wall near the Alaskan coast. damaged by the reef, the ship leaked oil out into the ocean. more than 1600 kilometers of coastline in the area estimate that 580000 birds and 5500 otters died as a result of the oil from the spill covering their skin. smaller shellfish and other sea creatures affected by the oil spill. some scientists who studied nature was living on ocean floor were also affected, and these creatures were later eaten by seals, whales, and other animals.