Here is a chronology of events in the first few hours after the 12:04 a.m. (local time) March 24 grounding of the oil tanker Exxon Valdez on a reef in Alaska's Prince William Sound, based on Coast Guard transmissions monitored in Washington: 12:28 a.m. _ The Exxon Valdez is reported ``hard aground'' with 1.26 million barrels of North Slope crude oil and ``approximately 150,000 barrels'' initially released. Initial pollution reports are described as ``uncertain due to darkness.'' 12:30 a.m. _ Coast Guard closes Port Valdez to all traffic and dispatches the commercial tug Stalwart from Alyeska Marine Terminal to assist the Exxon Valdez. Two vessels designed to skim oil off the water are ``being prepared ... for delivery and deployment.'' 1 a.m. _ A pilot association boat leaves Valdez carrying Coast Guard officers and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation pollution personnel to the Exxon Valdez. 2:06 a.m. _ The Coast Guard notes that high tide was reached and the ship remained moored on the reef. 2:27 a.m. _ A merchant ship reports the oil slick a half mile south of the Exxon Valdez. 2:30 a.m. _ Coast Guard personnel arrive at the Exxon Valdez for the first time. 3:23 a.m. _ Coast Guard officers aboard the ship report back that 138,000 barrels of crude oil has been lost. 4:14 a.m. _ The Exxon Baton Rouge is sent to begin taking oil from the Valdez.
The oil tanker Valdez , carrying 1.26 million barrels of north-slope crude oil, grounded on a reef in Port Valdez 's Prince William Sound at 12:04am local time on March 24 . At 12:28 the Valdez reported 150,000 barrels released. Two minutes later the Coast Guard closed Alaska . The ship remained on the reef through high tide and a 150,000 barrels oil slick was reported at 2:27am . Valdez personnel boarded the ship and reported 138,000 barrels lost. At 4:14 the Exxon Baton Rouge was sent to begin taking the remaining oil off of the Valdez.