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Photo Du Jour: Pop

Brock Keeling — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:41:35 GMT

"Yo Ho Ho! And a bottle of...champagne?" by Darwin Bell.

Fishermen Awarded $6M For Cosco Busan Spill

Brock Keeling — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 08:30:33 GMT

Around 120 local fishermen will split $3.65 of a $6 million award in damages won though a class action lawsuit against the parties at fault for the horrific 2007 Cosco Busan oil spill. The spill, if you recall, poured an estimated 53,000 - 58,000 gallons of fuel into the bay after colliding with one of the Bay Bridge’s towers. It also killed scores of wildlife in the process.

"Local fishermen filed a series of class action suits against the owners and operators of the container ship in both federal court in San Francisco and in San Francisco Superior Court. Lawsuits were brought against both Fleet Management and the ship’s owner, Regal Stone Ltd. of Hong Kong, reported The Examiner. "Both lawsuits claimed fishermen suffered 'profound' economic damage from the oil contamination and sought certification as class actions on behalf of all commercial operations that catch fish in and near San Francisco Bay."

Maritime pilot John Cota, if you recall, was "impaired" via use of prescription pharmaceuticals while piloting the boat. He was sentenced to 10 months in jail.

Your Oil Spillage Update

Brock Keeling — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:30:42 GMT

Just what's up with our least favorite oil spill dilemma, you ask? Let's find out:

-- After 29 years of military service, Coast Guard Captain William Uberti will retire after the oil-spill SNAFU is over and done with. According to the Examiner, "Uberti was the region's sector commander when a container ship sideswiped the Bay Bridge in dense fog, dumping 58,000 gallons of thick bunker fuel into the bay." Uberti was soon replaced after much criticism came his way regarding how the spill was handled moments after it happened. Sure, after 29 years of service this isn't the best way go out, but...good for him. Well, you know, minus the tail-end of his career.

-- This confuses us a bit: It seems that Senator Dean Florez (D, Kern County) wants to get in some face time via the Cosco Busan fender bender. Why? Because he wants the clean-up company in charge to be present at a hearing tomorrow (Friday). Badly. If they're a no-show, he plans on using his subpoena powers against the firm, the O'Brien's Group, if they won't voluntarily come to a hearing/inquiry.