According to the U.S. Department of Justice, a chief engineer has been sentenced to twelve months and a day in prison after being convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and failure to maintain an accurate Oil Record Book.
In particular, Chief Engineer Denys Korotkiy made false and fictitious entries in the Oil Record Book, claiming oily bilge had been transferred from the engine room bilge wells to the bilge holding tank. He also conspired with others to obstruct the U.S. Coast Guard from inspecting and investigating the mishandling of oily bilge water on the Donald.
On June 9, vessel Chief Engineer Denys Korotkiy was convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice, and failure to maintain an accurate Oil Record Book for the vessel Donald in San Diego, California, following a five-day jury trial.
The Oil Record Book
The Oil Record Book (ORB) is a document used to record all oil-related operations and discharges on board a ship. The main purpose of the Oil Record Book, as required by MARPOL Annex I, is to ensure compliance with the regulations and prevent pollution of the seas by oil discharges.
Vessel operating company Interunity Management (Deutschland) GMBH previously pleaded guilty for maintaining false and incomplete records relating to the discharge of oily bilge water and was ordered to pay a total of $1.25 million, including more than $312,000 to benefit marine and coastal natural resources in or near the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve.
U.S. District Court Judge Todd W. Robinson for the Southern District of California sentenced Denys Korotkiy on September 15.
