San Francisco’s Biggest Oil Spill in Two Decades
To get an idea of the path and the way the tanker hit the bay bridge after it left the Oakland area, here’s a cool link that re-creates the path of the tanker.
As for the oil spill itself, it just goes to show the dynamic way the waters swirl and move about the bay and outside aling the coastline…and how quickly a horrible spill can damage so many areas in so man places. By the way, one of the main bird rescue facilities is right near where I am right now. Not far from Napa, in Fairfield California.
Here’s the latest with a picture I pulled from the web:
Investigators want to know whether a ship pilot under investigation in San Francisco Bay’s biggest oil spill in nearly two decades initially played down the damage to his vessel, according to the Coast Guard.
Immediately after the Cosco Busan struck the Bay Bridge last week, Capt. John Cota quickly radioed authorities to report the vessel had “touched” the bridge, according to an official with knowledge of the investigation.
“Traffic, we just touched the delta span,” Cota said, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing criminal probe. Cota was referring to one of four supports beneath the bridge’s western section.
The impact did not damage the bridge, but it opened a 90-foot gash in the hull of the ship and ruptured its fuel tank, dumping 58,000 gallons into the bay, fouling miles of coastline and killing dozens of shorebirds.
“The comments made or the actions taken by individuals are all things that they could be held accountable for,” said Rear Adm. Craig Bone, the top Coast Guard officer in California.
Cota’s lawyer said his client did not immediately realize the severity of the crash. It has also been noted the poor visibility at the time — a quarter-mile to an eighth-mile in fog.
More than 12,000 gallons of oil had been recovered by Monday, but much never will be, the Coast Guard said. Some will evaporate or dissipate and be absorbed into the environment.
Tags: Oil Spill, San Francisco
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Adam Housley has been with FNC since 2001 as a Los Angeles-based
correspondent. He has covered news ranging from wildfires in California
to political unrest in Venezuela and was one of the few reporters who
witnessed the execution of Stanley “Tookie” Williams. 
I’m not up on my maritime law, but doesn’t the harbor pilot have the ultimate authority, and therefor responsibilty, as to the navigation of the ship inside the harbor’s waters? Even over the captain?
BTW, that is a pretty cool link.
that is a cool link- I had to do the show legend to figure out what was going on-
the orange are the cargo ships- looks like a few of those- I will be honest, I have had to look at this several times and I am still trying to figure it out-
You can see that the ship was traveling at an acute angle to the bridge and then turned sharply, directly into the center tower of the bridge.
What was with this sharp turn?
Will come back later and look at this again- I have to go visit the dentist-
thanks so much for posting this-
How come John you always ask the intelligent questions?
It has also been noted the poor visibility at the time — a quarter-mile to an eighth-mile in fog.
I wonder how much this played into this?
90 ft hole is no small gash! Youd have thought it would have been more like a “thud” than a “touch”!
I’m having flashbacks of Exxon-Valdez
I understand the severity but I don’t understand the criminal charges
that map was cool! but it looked like little vessels were bumping into each other… this was fun
While you’re on location with the Oil Spill…………
I hope you get to visit family and sip the ‘07 family vino!!!!
Interesting
1. The Captain is always in charge of the ship. The pilot is an advisor who provides naviagtional guidance to the Capt. The pilot (in general) is not held liable for the actions of the ship.
2. Got to wonder why the USCG response was so slow when the USCG Pacific Strike Team is located in Marin County?
3. 90 foot gash seems big until you remenber this sh
hip si abobut 900 feet long.
That is interesting. Now the question becomes, did the pilot give the wrong advice or did the captain not adhere to the advice given.
I am still playing with the link- it is so cool-
I wonder how the life under water is doing right now?