SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - Last November's cargo ship oil spill into San Francisco Bay is moving closer to going before a public hearing.
The man at the helm when the vessel hit the Bay Bride remains under scrutiny.
Friday, lawyers are supposed to discuss whether the process is on course for an April 28 hearing into the Cosco Busan's collision with the Bay Bridge, the resulted in the spilling of 58,000 gallons of oil. "It'll be presided over by an administrative law judge and the commission will be basically sitting as a jury," explained Pat Moloney, executive director of the Board of Pilot Commissioners, which licenses and regulates maritime pilots. That includes John Cota, who was piloting the Cosco Busan when the 900 ft. cargo ship sideswiped the bridge.
"In this case, the board summarily suspended Captain Cota's license pending the hearing," said Moloney. "And that could be suspension or revocation of the license if he's found at fault."
Next week, the Coast Guard is expected to release to the public the first of two reports on the response to the Cosco Busan oil spill.
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KCBS' George Harris reports
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