Research Traces Oil Leaks From USS Arizona Wreck
Scientists analyzed oil samples from several leak points on the Pearl Harbor battleship more than 80 years after it sank.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Oil and Gas
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Research from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the University of Houston, published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, analyzed oil samples from several leak points on the USS Arizona wreck at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The oil composition differs between leak points, and it still contains high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Why it matters
The USS Arizona still leaks oil more than 80 years after sinking, and the findings emphasize the need for ongoing monitoring and preparedness at the site. Understanding how the oil's chemistry changes over time helps researchers track the leaks at a war grave and memorial.
Researchers used molecular fingerprinting on oil samples from the wreck, which the National Park Service collected in 2016 and 2018. The estimated 600,000 gallons of oil still aboard the USS Arizona continue to leak, with the study noting that the oil's chemistry varies by leak point.
The players
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a private research organization in Massachusetts known for marine science and ocean exploration.
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a public research university in Texas with a broad academic program spanning the sciences.
National Park Service
The National Park Service is a federal agency that manages national parks and monuments, including the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.
The details
The oil is heavy fuel oil refined from California crude, and its chemistry shifts with exposure to oxygen, water flow and microbes in the wreckage. Not all of the PAHs found in the oil are highly toxic, according to the study.
Timeline
1941-1942: The USS Arizona sank at Pearl Harbor during World War II.
2016: The National Park Service collected oil samples from the wreck.
2018: The National Park Service collected a second round of oil samples from the wreck.
Legacy Impact
The sinking of the USS Arizona during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor left a wreck that still holds roughly 600,000 gallons of oil, and the new research shows that its leaks are ongoing rather than a closed chapter of wartime history. The findings extend the site's story from a memorial of loss into a continuing environmental monitoring challenge.
Residents and visitors planning to see the USS Arizona Memorial should expect ongoing monitoring at the site, as the leaks remain an active concern. The research gives the National Park Service a clearer chemical profile of the oil to guide future preparedness.
The takeaway
The oil leaking from the USS Arizona is not a fixed quantity; its composition changes with the wreck's environment, so long-term monitoring matters. Keeping track of these leaks protects both the memorial and the surrounding waters.
Further reading
For more on the energy side of this story, see Oil and Gas coverage across the Hawaii edition.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
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