Archive

June 20, 2017

Egyptian-based Egyptian Tanker Company and Singapore-based Thome Ship Management pleaded guilty and agreed to pay a $1.9 million penalty for violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and for obstruction of justice for covering up the illegal dumping of oil-contaminated bilge water and garbage from one of their ships into the sea. DOJ

April 19, 2017

Princess Cruise Lines Ltd. was sentenced to pay a $40 million penalty related to illegal dumping of oil contaminated waste and falsification of official logs in order to conceal the discharges.  It was the largest-ever penalty for crimes involving deliberate vessel pollution.  The court also ordered that a $1 million whistleblower reward be awarded to the British engineer who first reported the illegal discharges to the British Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which in turn provided the evidence to the U.S. Coast Guard. DOJ

January 12, 2017

Two Greek shipping companies -- Oceanfleet Shipping Limited and Oceanic Illsabe Limited -- were sentenced to pay corporate penalties totaling $2.7 million after being convicted for obstructing justice, violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, tampering with witnesses and conspiracy. Each company was ordered to pay part of its penalty to Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary in recognition of the threat posed by illegal discharges of oily waste to the marine environment. DOJ

October 21, 2016

Gallia Graeca Shipping Ltd. and Angelakos (Hellas) S.A., the companies that own and operate a Greek shipping vessel, were sentenced to a $1.3 million fine for the dumping of oily waste at sea.  In June, they were found guilty of violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, falsifying records in a federal investigation and engaging in a scheme to defraud the United States.  According to the evidence at trial, the defendants' cargo ship named the M/V Gallia Graeca travelled from China to Seattle with an inoperable pollution-control device and  discharged overboard approximately 5,000 gallons of oily bilge water.  The defendants then concealed it from the Coast Guard by making false statements to inspectors and making false statements and omissions in the ship’s oil record book.  DOJ

April 8, 2016

Norwegian shipping company DSD Shipping was sentenced to pay a total corporate penalty of $2.5 million as a result of its convictions for obstructing justice, violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, and tampering with witnesses.  DOJ

March 15, 2016

The German shipping companies Briese Schiffahrts GmbH & Co. KG and Briese Schiffahrts GmbH & Co. KG who owned and operated the cargo ship M/V BBC Magellan, pleaded guilty to failure to maintain an accurate oil record book, in violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships and tampering with witnesses by persuading them to provide false statements to the U.S. Coast Guard concerning a bypass hose on the vessel that was being used to discharge oil into the sea.  The companies were sentenced to pay a total of $1.25 million in fines and a $250,000 community service payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to fund projects that enhance coastal habitats of the Gulf of Mexico and bolster priority fish and wildlife populations.  In addition, the ship M/V BBC Magellan is banned from doing business in the United States for the next five years.  DOJ

June 17, 2015

Norbulk Shipping UK Ltd, operator of the M/V Murcia Carrier, pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an accurate oil record book in violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships and providing false statements to the US Coast Guard concerning the vessel’s garbage record book.  The company was sentenced to pay a criminal penalty of $750,000 and placed on three years of probation.  DOJ

March 6, 2015

Italian shipping company Carbofin S.p.A. (which owns and operates the M/T Marigola) was sentenced to pay an overall criminal penalty of $2.75 million for knowingly falsifying the vessel’s oil record book in violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS).  During 2013 and 2014, on numerous international voyages, senior members of the crew of the M/T Marigola directed the installation and use of a so-called “magic hose” to dispose of sludge, waste oil and oil-contaminated bilge water directly into the sea bypassing required pollution prevention equipment.  US Coast Guard inspectors learned of the violations from two junior engineering crew members of the ship.  DOJ March

January 30, 2015

The Hachiuma Steamship Co. pleaded guilty to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships arising from the illegal disposal of oil residue and bilge water overboard the cargo vessel M/V Selene Leader. The company was ordered to pay $1.8M and placed on probation for three years during which it is to develop an environmental compliance program. $250,000 of the payment was awarded to a whistleblower on board the M/V Selene Leader who alerted the Coast Guard about the illegal activities. DOJ