Sabine Towing & Transportation Co.

"In this case, which is before the court on the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment, the question for decision is whether 33 U.S.C. § 1321 (i)(1) entitles the plaintiff to recover the costs of cleaning up oil discharged from its vessel into the Hudson River. The resolution of that issue in turn depends upon whether or not the oil discharge was caused by an act of God as defined in 33 U.S.C. § 1321(a)(12).

"Plaintiff has attached to its motion what appear to be official reports of the United States Coast Guard, stating that plaintiffs vessel had struck an unknown underwater object in…