Coast Guard investigates near-collision in San Francisco Bay

Coast Guard investigates near-collision in San Francisco Bay    The U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Safety Office in San Francisco has begun an inquiry into the near-collision Aug. 16 of the containership 'Santa Monica' and a fishing vessel near the Golden Gate Bridge.
   The 'Santa Monica,' traveling outbound 'had to make a drastic course change to avoid a collision with the fishing vessel 'Cheryl-C,' which was obstructing the path of the 'Santa Monica' in the shipping lane and did not heed danger signals sounded by the 831-foot containership,' the Coast Guard said in a statement.
   The Coast Guard is pursing a civil penalty action against the fishing vessel for violating navigation rules, which state that small vessels should not obstruct deep-draft vessels in sailing lanes. Each violation can bring a civil penalty with a fine of $5,000 per incident.