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SF Ship Pilot May Have Had Sleep Disorder

Captain reportedly on two prescription meds for drowsiness, anxiety

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 20, 2008 6:46 PM CST
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(Newser) – The ship pilot who hit a San Francisco bridge and unleashed the bay's worst oil spill in nearly 20 years may have been on drugs for a sleep disorder, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Captain John Cota was reportedly taking two kinds of prescription medication to prevent drowsiness and treat anxiety. Feds are now probing whether a Coast Guard licensing plan should have prevented his hiring.

A 25-year veteran, Cota had disclosed his sleep apnea and prescription drug use to the Coast Guard, but the American Pilots Association chief said the process can be mysterious: “You send all your information to the Coast Guard, and it kind of goes behind closed doors.” Cota is one of 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, the AP notes.

Birds fly over Crissy Field East Beach, which is closed for oil clean up in San Francisco, on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007. The cargo ship Cosco Busan struck one of four supports beneath the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge's western section, opening a 90-foot gash in the hull that dumped 58,...
Birds fly over Crissy Field East Beach, which is closed for oil clean up in San Francisco, on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007. The cargo ship Cosco Busan struck one of four supports beneath the San Francisco-Oakland...   (Associated Press)
The cargo ship that struck the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and caused a 58,000-gallon oil spill is shown in the San Francisco bay, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
The cargo ship that struck the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and caused a 58,000-gallon oil spill is shown in the San Francisco bay, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)   (Associated Press)
An approximately 90-foot long gash stretches along the hull of the Cosco Busan as cargo is unloaded in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007. Navigating in heavy fog, the vessel struck the Bay Bridge and spilled about 58,000 gallons of oil into the San Francisco Bay. The pilot...
An approximately 90-foot long gash stretches along the hull of the Cosco Busan as cargo is unloaded in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007. Navigating in heavy fog, the vessel struck the Bay Bridge...   (Associated Press)
An approximately 90-foot long gash stretches along the hull of the Cosco Busan as cargo is unloaded in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007. The vessel struck the Bay Bridge, seen at left, on Nov. 7, spilling about 58,000 gallons of oil into the San Francisco Bay. The...
An approximately 90-foot long gash stretches along the hull of the Cosco Busan as cargo is unloaded in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007. The vessel struck the Bay Bridge, seen at left, on Nov....   (Associated Press)
A view of the gash, approximately 90-feet long, in the hull of the container ship Cosco Busan in Oakland, California. The vessel struck the Bay Bridge, spilling about 58,000 gallons of oil into the San Francisco Bay. It was San Francisco Bay's worst oil spill in nearly two decades....
A view of the gash, approximately 90-feet long, in the hull of the container ship Cosco Busan in Oakland, California. The vessel struck the Bay Bridge, spilling about 58,000 gallons of oil into the San...   (Associated Press)
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Pilots often have sleep disorders needing meds
San Francisco Chronicle

Medicare helps seniors get sleep apnea testing
Wall Street Journal

US

 
Congress • oil spill • Coast Guard • San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge • sleep apnea • sleep disorder

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