Ten oil spills of more than seven tonnes were recorded from tanker incidents in 2024, the same number as in 2023.
This brings the decade average to 7.4 tanker spills per year, which is a dramatic reduction from the numbers reported in earlier decades but currently slightly higher than the average for the 2010s (6.3 spills per year).
The total volume of oil lost to the environment from tanker spills in 2024 was approximately 10,000 tonnes.
Most oil spills (>7 tonnes) recorded between 1970 and 2024 were caused by allisions/collisions and groundings.
ITOPF maintains a database of oil spills from tank vessels, including combined carriers, FPSOs and barges. This contains information on accidental spillages of persistent and non-persistent hydrocarbon oil since 1970, except those resulting from acts of war.
The data held includes the location and cause of the incident, the vessel involved, the type of oil spilt and the spill amount. Spills are categorised by size, <7 tonnes (small), 7-700 tonnes (medium) and >700 tonnes (large) (<50 bbls, 50-5,000 bbls, >5,000 bbls), although the actual amount spilt is also recorded. Information is now held on over 10,000 incidents, the vast majority of which fall into the smallest category i.e. <7 tonnes.
Oil spills from tankers in 2024
For the year 2024, six large spills (>700 tonnes) and four medium spills (7-700 tonnes) were recorded from tanker incidents.
The large spills mostly involved fuel oil and occurred in South America, Asia and Europe.
The four medium spills also involved fuel oil; two occurred in Europe, one occurred in Asia and one in North America.
This brings the decade average to date to 7.4 spills (>7 tonnes) per year. This is currently a slight increase on the average for the 2010s, but a dramatic reduction from the numbers reported in earlier decades.
Global oil spill trend
Over the past half century, statistics for the frequency of spills greater than 7 tonnes from tankers have shown a marked downward trend, as illustrated in Figure 1 below.
Spills in excess of 7 tonnes have reduced by over 90% since the 1970s. There has however been little change in the last decade.
Frequency & quantity by decade
When the frequency and quantity of oil spilt are reviewed together, the influence of a few very large spills on the estimated quantities per decade can be seen:
• In the 1990s there were 358 spills of 7 tonnes and over, resulting in 1,134,000 tonnes of oil lost; 73% of this amount was spilt in just 10 incidents.
• In the 2000s there were 181 spills of 7 tonnes and over, resulting in 196,000 tonnes of oil lost; 75% of this amount was spilt in just 10 incidents.
• In the 2010s there were 63 spills of 7 tonnes and over, resulting in 164,000 tonnes of oil lost; 91% of this amount was spilt in just 10 incidents. One incident was responsible for about 70% of the quantity of oil spilt.
• In the 2020s to date, there have been 37 spills of 7 tonnes and over, resulting in 38,000 tonnes of oil lost. 91% of this amount can be attributed to 10 large incidents.
You will be able to find the full report here: ITOPF oil tanker spill statistics 2024 report
