In 1941, the U.S. battleship USS Arizona was sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor after a catastrophic bomb hit its ammunition magazine, claiming the lives of 1,177 crew members. At the time of its sinking, the ship had approximately 1.5 million gallons (about 5.7 million liters) of fuel in its tanks. Since that tragic day, the sunken wreck has been steadily releasing a small amount of oil into the waters of Oahu Bay, creating visible iridescent patches on the surface. These constant iridescent sheens, popularly known as the “tears of the Arizona” or “tears of the ship,” are released at an estimated rate of between one and nine liters per day. Despite fears of a potential environmental disaster in the bay, environmental authorities and the U.S. National Park Service have determined that the current seepage rate does not pose a serious ecological threat. It is estimated that the remaining fuel trapped in the submerged compartments could continue to seep uninterrupted for several centuries. The wreck of the USS Arizona, designated a National Monument, remains a sacred site and the military burial ground for more than a thousand sailors and Marines. Due to the site’s profound commemorative significance and the risk of destabilizing the hull’s structure and causing an unexpected massive spill, the U.S. Navy has chosen not to remove the remaining oil. Instead, the condition of the hull is continuously monitored through scientific studies and underwater sensors to ensure both the preservation of this historic monument and the protection of the surrounding marine ecosystem.