Cosco Busan Maritime Accident Blamed on Pilot Incompetence
The Mel Oliver-Tintamora tugboat oil barge accident in Louisiana last year and the collision of the Cosco Busan with the San Fransisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in 2007 both resulted in massive oil spillage, affecting commerce in the region. Fortunately, no one was injured in either accident.
Much like the Mel Oliver incident, the Cosco Busan accident has been traced back to pilot's incompetence. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Cosco Busan accident was caused by errors made by a pilot who was "medically unfit”. This, combined with a lack of communication between the pilot and the captain, led to the cargo vessel colliding with the Bay Bridge. The accident resulted in 53,000 gallons of oil spilling into the San Francisco Bay. Thousands of birds were killed and clean up efforts cost more than $70 million. 
According to the NTSB, Cosco Busan pilot, John Cota, bore most of the responsibility for the accident due to his failure to read radar data properly. Also, at the time of the accident, Cota was, reportedly, taking as many as 11 different medications for various conditions, ranging from alcoholism to depression. The Board vocalized the reaction of many maritime attorneys when they learned the vessel's pilot was steering his 68,000-ton ship under the influence of prescription medication, explaining "How [he] got to stand on the bridge of a 68,000-ton ship and give directions to guide the vessel through a foggy bay and under a busy highway bridge, is very troubling." Cota, it now appears, failed to report the kinds of medication he was taking when his pilot's license came up for renewal. The NTSB also found the ship's captain Mao Cai Sun to blame due to his failure to communicate effectively with Cota. The shipping firm that operated the Cosco Busan, Fleet Management, is also being held responsible and is expected to be charged for violation of environment laws.
Poor oversight of ship crew's senior members can put the lives of other crew members and innocent bystanders in danger. Incompetence of pilots and captains, like Cota's conduct in a drug-hazed stupor, can cause other maritime workers on a vessel serious injuries. When injuries are caused by the negligence of other employees, workers may eligible for compensation from their employer under Jones Act laws.
Maritime Injury Attorneys
The attorneys at Arnold & Itkin LLP have represented hundreds of maritime accident victims in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.
If you've been injured in a maritime accident, contact a maritime injury attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free evaluation of your case.
