The U.S. Coast Guard has identified and boarded a ship it believes may be responsible for the oil spill off the coast of California.
The Coast Guard boarded the MSC DANIT Saturday while it was at the Port of Long Beach. The ship is owned by Dordellas Finance Corporation and operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Company. It allegedly dragged its anchor during heavy weather in January on the seafloor near the pipeline, causing damage resulting in an oil spill on Oct. 2.
SURF CITY USA IN CALIFORNIA REOPENS BEACH AFTER OIL SPILL
Both the owner and operator were named “parties in interest” in the investigation. Under this designation, they may “be represented by counsel, to examine and cross-examine witnesses, and to call witnesses who are relevant to the investigation.”
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The Coast Guard is also investigating other possibilities for the cause of the spill that released 126,000 gallons of crude oil into the waters around Orange County and forced beaches to close south of Los Angeles.
MSC did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
