The US Department of Justice has ordered a Hong Kong-based ship management company to pay US$10 million in fines and penalties for its role in the 'COSCO Busan' oil spill incident.
The incident took place in November 2007 when the container ship 'COSCO Busan' struck the Oakland Bay Bridge in San Francisco whilst navigating under direction of a pilot during thick fog, resulting in approximately 167 tonnes of fuel spilt and damage to the vessel and the bridge.
The sentencing follows the earlier plea agreement according to which US$2 million of the total amounts to be paid will be devoted to fund marine environmental projects in San Francisco Bay.
Initially, the entire crew of the 'COSCO Busan' was detained by the US authorities following the oil spill. Of these, six Chinese crewmembers, including the ship's Master were held as material witnesses (not suspects) for as long as a year after the incident.
The operator of the ship pleaded guilty in federal court to criminal violation of the US Oil Pollution Act of 1990, obstruction of justice, and falsifying documents in connections with the collision.
