Chinese operator of ship that caused 2007 San Francisco Bay oil spill fined $10M
SAN FRANCISCO February 19, 2010 (AP)
A federal judge has ordered a Hong Kong-based company to pay a $10 million fine after the cargo ship it operated caused a massive oil spill in San Francisco Bay.
U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston also ordered Fleet Management Inc. to better train its officers in navigation and safety Friday.
The fine was expected after Fleet Management reached a deal with prosecutors in August. The company pleaded guilty to obstruction, making false statements and negligent oil discharge.
The 900-foot Cosco Busan spilled 53,000 gallons of oil in 2007 after sideswiping a San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge tower.
The pilot, John Cota, was sentenced to 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor charges.
Company lawyers declined comment Friday, citing active lawsuits over the spill.
via abc News
Updated: February 5, 2026 (Originally published February 19, 2010)
Sign up for gCaptain’s newsletter and never miss an update
Essential maritime and offshore news, insights, and updates delivered daily straight to your inbox
Today, the U.S. Deptartment of Justice announced filing of a civil lawsuit against BP and several other companies involved in the Gulf Oil Spill, seeking undisclosed penalties and damages under...
A federal judge in New Orleans, Louisiana, has blocked a six-month federal moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf. Several dozen plaintiffs had sued President Barack Obama’s administration, arguing the...
Some more events unfolded yesterday in the case of the Cosco Busan allision with the San Francisco Bay Bridge. Fleet Management Ltd., the vessels operating company, plead guilty to two...
Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
