Cargo ship 'Beijing' is identified as tanker that likely caused massive oil spill off Southern California coast after its anchor dragged along the seabed and cracked the pipeline

• A cargo ship is under investigation for its potential involvement in an early October oil spill off the Southern California coastline
• U.S. Coast Guard said Chinese state-owned Cosco Beijing is under investigation for its potential involvement in the displacement of a pipeline
• It's believed it's anchor struck the pipeline, opening up a crack
• The damage is thought to have occurred during bad weather in January but it took a further nine months for oil to leak out 
• At least 25,000 gallons of crude oil were estimated to have been released as a result of the spill, which led to beaches in the area being closed for five days 

A Liberian-owned ship called the Beijing is believed to be responsible for the massive oil spill that tarnished Southern California beaches last month after the vessel's anchor dragged across the seabed and cracked a crucial pipeline 

The U.S. Coast Guard together with the National Transportation Safety Board Friday identified the cargo ship Costco Beijing as the vessel that was likely involved in the incident. 

Although the pipe was hit by the anchor in January, it didn't begin to leak oil until October, investigators said.

The owners of Beijing, Capetanissa Maritime Corp. of Liberia, and operator, V.Ships Greece Ltd. were both named as 'parties in interest,' and investigators boarded the vessel at the Port of Long Beach on Thursday.

The finding means investigators will now be able to be examine the vessel more closely as the probe into the spill moves forward. 

Federal investigators managed to determine that the ship had been involved in the anchor dragging incident, which happened 'in close proximity' to an underwater pipeline.

The pipeline was later found to be the source of the leak, causing thousands of gallons of oil to spew into the ocean - which shut beaches and marinas in Orange County. 

The rupture was to a pipeline owned by Amplify Energy in federal waters at the Elly oil-rig platform some 4½ miles offshore.

The pipeline runs for 18 miles from Amplify's offshore drilling platforms to a Long Beach pump station. 

It was confirmed that Amplify's pipeline was damaged and moved for more than 100 feet along the ocean floor, suggesting the ship's anchor may have caused the damage.  

It was initially thought around 144,000 gallons of oil could have leaked from the pipeline but officials determined the amount was far lower - at around 25,000, although there is no firm figure.

The shorelines in Huntington Beach, which is known as 'Surf City USA,' and neighboring Newport Beach were shut down for a short time. 

Coastal shops ended up taking a hit and environmental advocates have voiced concerns about the long-term impact of the spill on sensitive wetland areas and wildlife.

More than four dozen animals, mostly birds and fish, were found dead in the week after the spill, though not all were visibly oiled.

It’s not known why the leak occurred eight months later rather than at the time of the anchor collision. Authorities also are looking into whether other anchors hit and weakened the pipeline or if a preexisting condition with the line was to blame.