On 7 November 2007, the Cosco Busan
made headlines around the world for clipping
the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on
the outbound voyage and in the process spilling
just over 200 tonnes of oil. In absolute terms,
this was a small accident. The bridge structure
was undamaged; the ship was gashed but easily
repaired (and quickly renamed); and the oil 
pollution was cleaned up with environmental and
ecological damage minimised.

This article looks at underlying issues of the interaction
between the bridge team and the pilot which may
have contributed to the outcome.

Please click herefor the full article, first published in
Seaways magazine, September 2008 edition.

Reproduced from Seaways by permission of The Nautical Institute, the international professional body for qualified seafarers and others with an interest in nautical matters. The Institute provides a wide range of services to enhance the professional standing and knowledge of members who are drawn from all sectors of the maritime world: see http://www.nautinst.org/