Maritime Accident News

Cosco Busan owner settles with fishermen for $3.6 million

The owner-operator of the ship responsible for the worst oil spill in San Francisco Bay history reached a tentative $3.6 million settlement with commercial fishermen.

A plaintiff’s attorney announced that Fleet Management Ltd. and Regal Stone Ltd. of Hong Kong agreed to the settlement which will be divided up among 120 fishermen. The spill delayed the start of the following Dungeness crab season, damaged halibut and surf perch, the fishermen alleged.

Their 901-foot container ship, the Cosco Busan, struck a support tower of the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge in thick fog at 8:30 a.m. on November 7th, 2007. The ship scraped along a protective fender for 16 seconds, slicing open two fuel tanks like a can of sardines.

Nearly two years of legal wrangling went by before Fleet Management accepted responsibility for its role in the accident, pleading guilty to negligence in violating the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90). The management company also pled to obstruction of justice, making false statements to investigators, and falsifying documents.

The company has promised to implement a strict training voyage program for ships sailing to the U.S. Masters will be instructed on proper procedures for commanding vessels and all bridge officers will undergo shipboard management training.

53,500 gallons of heavy bunker oil spilled into the Bay, closing 50 beaches and oiling over 200 miles of shoreline. At least 2,500 birds were killed along with seals and other species of marine life.

The ship’s pilot was cited by the NTSB for being medically unfit. He pled guilty to two misdemeanor environmental crimes and was sentenced to 10 months in prison.

Fleet Management was fined $10 million early in 2010.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

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