Arctic Dawn, grounded on St Paul Island March 1996

Many ships travel Great Circle Routes from Asia to the west coast of the US and back. Many of these ships have no tracking devices or oil-spill contingency plans, if they have no planned stops at US ports. When wrecks and groundings occur the risk to island habitat as well as marine creatures and plants can be devastating. Not only can oil be spilled, but rats and other invasive species can be introduced to these fragile island habitats