The M/V Selendang Ayu disaster: Linkages between policy change, gaps, and crises

The 2004 M/V Selendang Ayu grounding in the Aleutian Islands was the worst spill disaster to hit Alaska coastal waters since the 1989 Exxon Valdez catastrophe. The grounding – resulting in several crew member deaths and 354,000 gallons of spilled diesel fuel – left stakeholders asking some basic questions. How could such a tragedy have happened? Was the tragedy a result of shortcomings in the existing policy? This case study suggests answers can be found through an examination of the linkages between crisis catalysts, policy change and subsequent gaps in statutory provisions.