On June 23, 1989, the Greek-registered oil tanker World Prodigy, owned by Ballard Shipping Company, en route from Bulgaria to Providence, Rhode Island, grounded on Brenton Reef in Narragansett Bay off Newport, Rhode Island. The impact of the grounding ruptured nine of the vessel's 23 cargo tanks causing the discharge of approximately 290,000 gallons of number 2 fuel oil into the bay. The oil eventually spread over a 123 square mile area of the bay and Rhode Island Sound. A portion of the oil was stranded on intertidal areas of lower Narragansett Bay.