WATCH: Exxon Valdez Captain Explains Accident

Published Mar 26, 2014 2:34 PM by The Maritime Executive

In this video, CNN's Kyra Phillips takes a close look at what went wrong on the Exxon Valdez with the ship's captain, Joseph Hazelwood.

He was accused of being intoxicated which contributed to the disaster, but was cleared of this charge at his 1990 trial after witnesses testified that he was sober around the time of the accident. Hazelwood was convicted of a lesser charge, negligent discharge of oil (a misdemeanor), fined $50,000, and sentenced to 1,000 hours of community service.

Hazelwood never had his masters' license revoked and it remains valid to this date. His alma mater, SUNY Maritime College, hired him as a teacher aboard the T/S Empire State V the year after the incident with the Valdez.