On November 7, 2007, heavy fog in San Francisco Bay caused the M/V Cosco Busan to strike a tower of the Bay Bridge. The allision resulted in a 100-foot gash in the hull, which lead to the release of 53,000 gallons of diesel into the Bay. The oil quickly spread to other parts of the Bay and the outer coastline, both north and south, and washed ashore on many miles of sensitive shoreline. Oil spill specialists from NOAA OR&R's Emergency Response Division responded throughout the duration of the spill by providing responders with trajectory forecasts of oil movement, consultation on cleanup techniques, shoreline assessments, and coordination of weather forecasts and other science activities.

Response efforts continued through January of 2008, with the oil having heavy impacts on shoreline and wildlife. An estimated 6,849 birds of 65 species were killed, an estimated 14 - 29 percent of the winter 2008 herring spawn were lost due to impacts on eggs and young fish, and more than 3,000 acres of shoreline habitat were oiled.

In March 2012, a settlement between Trustees and the ship’s owner and operator was reached and provided $32 million in settlement funds to finance restoration projects, such as habitat improvements on impacted beaches and islands, restoration for bird roosting and nesting habitats, and restoration of eelgrass, rockweed, and oyster beds.

More Information:

• IncidentNews (reports, documents, images, etc.): M/V Cosco Busan
• Image Gallery: 2007 Cosco Busan Oil Spill
• Restoration work outlined on the DARRP (Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program) website: M/V Cosco Busan