The chief engineer of the container ship MSC Michigan VII, Fernando San Diego San Juan, has pleaded guilty to federal charges linked to an incident in Charleston Harbor last June. This occurrence temporarily closed the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and prompted evacuations at local beaches. San Juan admitted to neglecting to report hazardous conditions on the vessel and obstructing a federal investigation. The plea agreement could result in a sentence of up to six years, alongside potential fines of $250,000 and supervised release periods for each offense.
On June 5, 2024, while departing Charleston, the MSC Michigan VII experienced a propulsion failure, leading it to exceed legal speed limits by moving at 14 to 17 knots. The ship, which measures 997 feet and weighs 74,000 tons, lost control of its engines while nearly at full throttle. San Juan, who had only been in his position for two months, received inadequate training and quickly identified numerous mechanical issues aboard the vessel.
Investigations revealed discrepancies between engine RPMs and control commands that forced engineers to manually adjust systems under stressful conditions. This failure resulted in local beach closures and halted traffic on the bridge as a safety precaution against potential accidents. The aftermath saw damages exceeding $500,000 and a lawsuit from Carver Maritime LLC against MSC Michigan VII for resulting losses.
Following an extensive 44-day detention by the U.S. Coast Guard, the ship was released on July 22 after investigations into its operational shortcomings. San Juan’s admissions during inquiries highlighted serious failings in maritime safety protocols, raising concerns about oversight and management not only in maritime operations but also across other service sectors facing similar pressures globally.
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