Yes the pipeline was noticed in the LNM, but Bean did not mark and light the submerged discharge pipeline as required by law. I wish I had a nickle for everyone I know that have hit dredge pipes and/or dredge equipment. Fellows, this is not some one sided civil suit looking for a payday, this is a Criminal Charge against a company and some corporate officer will most likely do hard time in a Federal Prison because of the negligence.
18 U.S. Code § 1115 - Misconduct or neglect of ship officers
Every captain, engineer, pilot, or other person employed on any steamboat or vessel, by whose misconduct, negligence, or inattention to his duties on such vessel the life of any person is destroyed, and every owner, charterer, inspector, or other public officer, through whose fraud, neglect, connivance, misconduct, or violation of law the life of any person is destroyed, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
When the owner or charterer of any steamboat or vessel is a corporation, any executive officer of such corporation, for the time being actually charged with the control and management of the operation, equipment, or navigation of such steamboat or vessel, who has knowingly and willfully caused or allowed such fraud, neglect, connivance, misconduct, or violation of law, by which the life of any person is destroyed, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 757; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §#8239;330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
