A New York Times article published today outlines the latest developments on the November 7th oil spill at the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge.
The article states that during a two-day hearing on the oil spill, Robert Bourgeois, MD, announced that the pilot of the vessel had been diagnosed with multiple disorders. Sleep apnea was the most recently added ailment on Captain John Cota’s list.
As reported in the New York Times, the Captain had received waivers allowing him to hold onto his federal mariner’s license despite the growing list of illnesses. The article also quotes Bourgeois, who conducts physical examinations for the Federal Aviation Administration and examines mariners, as articulating that Cota should not have had his license renewed after the diagnosis of sleep apnea.
People with sleep apnea often experience sleeplessness, difficulty concentrating, and excessive sleepiness during the day, according to information from the National Sleep Foundation.
Last fall’s maritime crash ended with 58,000 gallons of oil spilled from the 810 ft container ship. This led to closed beaches, oil-soaked birds and other wildlife, and a pungent oil smell through San Francisco.
