(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Coast Guard boarded a container ship that dragged its anchor in close proximity to a Southern California undersea pipeline that was the source of an oil spill earlier this month. 

Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board investigators boarded MSC Danit on Saturday in the Port of Long Beach, according to a release from the agency. 

In stormy weather on Jan. 25, the ship dragged its anchor in close proximity to the pipeline which was the source of a major oil spill off Orange County this month that forced the closure of beaches and sullied wetlands. The Coast Guard has designated MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA, operator of the vessel, and Dordellas Finance Corp., owner of the vessel, as “parties in interest” to the investigation.

The growth of marine life around the breach in the Amplify Energy Corp. pipeline indicated that an anchor dragged by the line a while ago, rather than recently, U.S. Coast Guard officials said last week, adding that they were looking at Jan. 24 and Jan. 25 as dates of interest because of a large storm at that time. A total of 24 ships pulled anchor and sailed into open ocean due to the rough conditions.

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.