The pilot in charge of the container ship that hit San Francisco Bridge last November, spilling 200 metric tonnes (mt) of residual bunker fuel oil into the Bay, has asked that his trial be moved from San Francisco to Fresno.

John Cota, who was piloting the Cosco Busan, claims that local press coverage has made it impossible for him to get a fair trial in San Francisco.

He believes that "inflammatory news coverage - chiefly by The Chronicle - has prejudiced Bay Area jurors against him," a report in SF Gate revealed.

In papers filed with a federal judge, Cota's lawyers said that a review of hundreds of newspaper articles about the spill, the resulting environmental damage, and the alleged misdeeds of Captain John Cota shows it would be "difficult, if not if not impossible," for him to receive a fair trial before an unbiased jury.

The lawyers have asked that the trial either be moved to Fresno or that the judge orders stringent measures to screen jury members for bias, added the report.

US District Judge Susan Illston has set a tentative trial date of November 17, despite protests from Cota’s attorney that the November 7 anniversary of the fuel spill could "stir up" stories and other negative comments that make it difficult for Mr Cota to get a fair trial.

The Hong Kong shipping company responsible for operating the Cosco Busan, Fleet Management Limited, has been charged with six felony counts for falsifying documents and the obstruction of justice.

The two charges lodged against both Cota and Fleet Management are a pair of misdemeanour counts of killing migratory birds and violating the US Clean Water Act.

Cota is also charged with making false statements to the US Coast Guard in 2006 and 2007 concerning his medications and medical conditions.  He has certified that all the information he provided on required medical forms was complete and true to the best of his knowledge.  

The investigation is ongoing and is being conducted by the Coast Guard Investigative Service, the EPA Criminal Investigation Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Game, Office of Spill Prevention and Response.