two Valdez technicians testified on March 24 that they did not warn the Exxon Valdez that it had disappeared from radar until the tanker ran aground on March 24 , while detouring around ice in the treacherous Prince William Sound . Another loaded tanker had taken a similar detour around ice four hours earlier without any problems. The technicians also admitted that the radar was less than reliable. Defense lawyers capitalized on the testimony to demonstrate that perhaps it was Coast Guard negligence, not the captain's alleged drunken recklessness, that contributed to the grounding. Defense lawyers are emphasizing this testimony in the trial of the Coast Guard 's captain. The captain faces up to 7 years and 3 months in jail and a $ 61,000 fine.
two Valdez technicians testified on March 24 that they did not warn the Exxon Valdez that it had disappeared from radar until the tanker ran aground on March 24 , while detouring around ice in the treacherous Prince William Sound . Another loaded tanker had taken a similar detour around ice four hours earlier without any problems. The technicians also admitted that the radar was less than reliable. Defense lawyers are emphasizing this testimony in the trial of the Coast Guard 's captain. The captain faces up to 7 years and 3 months in jail and a $ 61,000 fine.