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).
Six of the ten incidents in 2024 resulted in spills greater than 700 tonnes (classified as ‘large’ spills). These mostly involved spills of fuel oil and occurred in South America, Asia and Europe. The four other incidents (classified as ‘medium’ spills) also involved spills of fuel oil. Two occurred in Europe, one in Asia and one in North America.
The total volume of oil lost to the environment from tanker spills in 2024 was approximately 10,000 tonnes. This estimate is higher than last year, but remains a fraction of the total amount of oil that is transported by sea each year.
Despite some annual fluctuations, ITOPF’s statistics show that the number and volume of oil spills from tankers have now largely stabilised at a low level. This reflects the positive changes driven by the shipping industry and governments to improve tanker safety and standards of operations. Accidents are still a possibility, however, and maintaining this commitment is crucial for the continued protection of the marine environment.
