The Norwegian Maritime Authority charged a Singapore company with NOK 7 million for violating the Pollution and Criminal Code after it attempted to sail the ship Harrier for illegal scrapping.
The fine has already been paid since Wirana Shipping CPL had provided financial security for the ship as decided by the Oslo District Court when the ship was to sail from Norway in July 2018. The vessel was dismantled at a Turkish yard in 2018.
In 2017 the ‘Tide Carrier’, today known as ‘the Harrier’ was planning to sail from Kvinnherad, Norway, for scrapping on a beach in Gadani, Pakistan. The vessel grounded in February 2017 and was prohibited from sailing because of its condition. Yet, the vessel presented invalid nationality certificates from the Comoros and non-real class certificates from the Union Marine Class Society.
The regulations about vessel demolition are strict and shipowners in many cases face risk of criminal liability.
In light of this illegal action, the Norwegian Maritime Authority commented that
Wirana Shipping CPL is a company that, among other things, buys end-of-life ships and sells them to scrap sites on the beaches of India and Pakistan.
Moreover, after being banned from leaving Norway, the CFO of Wirana Shipping CPL allegedly obtained a fictitious agreement that the ship would be operational off Africa. In light of this agreement, the pollution act was also violated because the vessel’s voyage brought many pollution dangers and also because necessary maintenance of the engine was made during anchorage at Feistein off Klepp without a tugboat in readiness.
