# Tankers, barges and fuel trucks: Impact on the biosphere

Spills down 90% since the 1970s, but each one still devastates

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_tankers/biosphere/

What this tab covers Effects on human, animal, plant, fungal and microbial life and on whole ecosystems: in the short term (construction and early years), medium term (operating life) and long term (decommissioning and legacy).

Big tanker spills have fallen by more than 90% since the 1970s, but each one can still devastate a coastline. Day to day, ships emit CO2 and air pollution, make underwater noise and carry organisms in ballast water. In 2026, war and an ageing shadow fleet raised the risk of spills and harm to crews.
 Tanker spills over 7 tonnes down over 90% since the 1970s; 7 a year on average in the 2020s^[10](https://itopf.org/knowledge-resources/data-statistics/statistics)^[11](https://www.itopf.org/news/news/itopf-publishes-2025-oil-tanker-spill-statistics/) Oil lost from tankers by decade 1,134,000 t in the 1990s; 164,000 t in the 2010s; 42,000 t in 2020-2025^[10](https://itopf.org/knowledge-resources/data-statistics/statistics) Tanker spills in 2025 6 (3 over 700 t), about 4,000 t lost^[11](https://www.itopf.org/news/news/itopf-publishes-2025-oil-tanker-spill-statistics/) Spills over 1,000 gallons per million ton-miles, US (2001-2019) barge 2.3, rail 6.6, truck 5.5^[21](https://nationalwaterwaysfoundation.org/file/43/Final%202022%20NWF%20TTI%20study%20press%20release.pdf) Main causes of tanker spills, 1970-2025 collisions, allisions and groundings^[10](https://itopf.org/knowledge-resources/data-statistics/statistics)

#### Effects over time

| Life affected | Short term | Medium term | Long term |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Humans**^[14](https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/crude-oil/102626-vlcc-transits-climb-at-hormuz-steady-at-bab-al-mandab-for-second-day)^[22](https://www.army.mil/article/46504) | Seafarers exposed to attacks in the Gulf and Red Sea in 2026 | Fuel convoys in war zones (one casualty per 24 convoys in Afghanistan, fiscal 2007, per the US Army); rail derailments with fires | Health effects from spills on coastal communities and clean-up workers |
| **Animals**^[10](https://itopf.org/knowledge-resources/data-statistics/statistics) | Little evidence of effect from shipbuilding itself | Seabirds, marine mammals and fish oiled in spills; underwater noise and ship strikes | Long-lived oil residues in sediments after large spills |
| **Plants**^[10](https://itopf.org/knowledge-resources/data-statistics/statistics) | Little evidence of effect | Mangroves, salt marsh and seagrass smothered when oil comes ashore | Slow recovery of oiled marshes |
| **Fungi and soil life**^[21](https://nationalwaterwaysfoundation.org/file/43/Final%202022%20NWF%20TTI%20study%20press%20release.pdf) | Little evidence of effect | Soil contamination at rail and road tanker crash sites | Little evidence of effect |
| **Ecosystems**^[10](https://itopf.org/knowledge-resources/data-statistics/statistics) | Little evidence of effect | Spill risk concentrated at chokepoints and busy coasts; invasive species spread in ballast water | Ship CO2 adds to climate change |

#### How the effects are reduced

Double hulls, traffic separation at chokepoints, inert gas, crew training and port state inspections drove most of the fall in spills, and compensation funds pay for clean-up. On land, DOT-117 tank cars, speed limits for crude trains and compartmented road tankers reduce releases. The biggest gaps now are the shadow fleet, whose old ships often lack proper insurance and inspection, and war damage. Slower sailing and alternative fuels cut CO2 per tonne-mile.

#### Sources

1. [Oil Tanker Spill Statistics 2025](https://itopf.org/knowledge-resources/data-statistics/statistics) ITOPF, 2026
2. [ITOPF publishes 2025 oil tanker spill statistics](https://www.itopf.org/news/news/itopf-publishes-2025-oil-tanker-spill-statistics/) ITOPF, 2026
3. [VLCC transits climb at Hormuz, steady at Bab al-Mandab for second day](https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/crude-oil/102626-vlcc-transits-climb-at-hormuz-steady-at-bab-al-mandab-for-second-day) S&P Global Energy, 2026
4. [A modal comparison of domestic freight transportation effects on the general public, 2001-2019 (TTI study, press release)](https://nationalwaterwaysfoundation.org/file/43/Final%202022%20NWF%20TTI%20study%20press%20release.pdf) National Waterways Foundation (industry-commissioned), 2022
5. [Saving energy saves lives, says new Army exec (US Army statement citing a 2009 Army study)](https://www.army.mil/article/46504) US Army, 2010

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_tankers/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_tankers/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_tankers/correlation/index.md)
- [How it works](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_tankers/explain/index.md)
- [Efficiency and losses](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_tankers/efficiency/index.md)
- [Technology advances](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_tankers/advances/index.md)
- [Value chain](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_tankers/valuechain/index.md)
- [Geopolitics and regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_tankers/geopolitics/index.md)
- [Unit economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_tankers/economics/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_tankers/links/index.md)