US Coast Guard investigating Chinese state-owned cargo ship for possible role in California oil spill
A U.S. Coast Guard source confirmed to FOX Business that the Cosco Beijing is under investigation
The Cosco Beijing container ship, operated by Costamare Shipping Co. SA, arrives at the Port of Rotterdam in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014. Photographer: Jasper Juinen/Bloomberg via Getty Images
EXCLUSIVE: A second named cargo ship is under investigation for its potential involvement in an early October oil spill off the Southern California coastline.
A U.S. Coast Guard source confirmed to FOX Business that the Malta-registered and Chinese state-owned Cosco Beijing is under investigation for its potential involvement in the displacement of a pipeline. The cargo ship is 1,150 feet long.
The Cosco Beijing container ship, operated by Costamare Shipping Co. SA, arrives at the Port of Rotterdam in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014. (Jasper Juinen/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Representatives from COSCO Shipping Lines did not respond to multiple requests for comment from FOX Business.
The company, which is state-owned and based out of Shanghai, China, operated 411 container vessels as of September, according to the company website.
CALIFORNIA OIL SPILL: INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE 1,200-FOOT CARGO SHIP DRAGGED PIPELINE
On Oct. 16, the U.S. Coast Guard named MSC DANIT, a cargo ship, as a "party in interest" for its possible involvement in the Jan. 25 anchor-dragging incident during heavy storms in the area.
It happened near a pipeline that was later determined to be the source of an oil spill discovered in early October off Huntington Beach in Orange County.
At least 25,000 gallons of crude oil were estimated to have been released as a result of the spill.
Workers in protective suits clean the contaminated beach after an oil spill in Newport Beach, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) (AP Newsroom)
Investigators believe the MSC DANIT dragged its anchor for an undisclosed distance before coming into contact with the 16-inch steel pipe.
The FBI earlier confirmed to FOX Business it is joining the investigation into the oil spill along with a number of other federal agencies.
CALIFORNIA OIL SPILL: INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE 1,200-FOOT CARGO SHIP DRAGGED PIPELINE
"The FBI has joined an investigation into the Orange County oil spill near Huntington Beach, California, and is one of many federal agencies investigating to determine the cause of the rupture."
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the oil spill has "far-reaching consequences" in an Oct. 11 press release.
The Cosco Beijing container ship, operated by Costamare Shipping Co. SA, arrives at the Port of Rotterdam in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014. (Jasper Juinen/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS
"The oil spill off the coast of Huntington Beach is an environmental disaster with far-reaching consequences for our fish and wildlife, for our communities and for our economy," Bonta said. "I want to thank all our local, state and federal partners who are working around the clock to protect the health and safety of Californians and to mitigate the damage to our environment and natural resources. In times of crisis, it takes all of us – working together – to get the job done. My office is committed to devoting the people and the resources necessary to ensure this environmental disaster is fully investigated, and we will follow the facts wherever they lead us."
Fox News' Kelly Laco and the Associated Press contributed to this report.