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Cosco Busan Oil Spill
(November 2007)
On the morning of November 7th, 2007, the Cosco Busan container ship crashed into the Bay Bridge releasing 53,569 gallons of oil or “bunker fuel” into the San Francisco Bay. The effects of the spill were seen not only all around the Bay Area, but all the way down the coast, threatening the lives and habitats of many marine species. It caused the temporary closure of more than fifty public beaches, and the deaths of thousands of birds as well as other larger animals like seals. What is even more devastating and dramatic about this incident was also the fact that the pilot was found to have been on drugs, beginning an entire case about the incident. Eventually, the pilot spent 10 months in prison, as well as was fined alongside the company for the environmental and structural damages that they caused. This devastating event remains one of the largest oil spills in the Bay Area’s history and repercussions from this event can still be seen within the bay.
Dramatic incident causes huge environmental and economical deficeits in the Bay Area.
Local News