Go into Google Earth settings, expand the "More" tab toward the bottom, expand the "Digital Globe Coverage" tab and check the DG Coverage 2006, 2008 and 2009.

Then click on the DG tabs that appear over the shoals. There should be one for 2006, three for 2008 and two for 2009 (Feb and Apr). They will give you raw data and pics about the shots.

Unfortunately the two 2009 shots are completely cloud covered, but the 2008 and 2006 shots don't look like there is anything unusual there, but I'm a linguist, not an imagery analyst.
russiannavyblog | 06.20.09 - 9:22 am | #

I wouldn't doubt that the actual location of the incident would be misreported. Probably wouldn't want to give ship positioning away.

As far as Google Earth is concerned, I can't help you there.
Tom | Homepage | 06.20.09 - 8:40 pm | #