A South Korean shipping business that polluted the water near Marseille faces a one million euro penalties.
In particular, for continuing to operate its scrubber within three nautical miles of the port of Fos-sur-Mer, the bulk carrier SM Roberts Bank has run into major difficulties with French authorities.
As explained, prosecutors claim that the ship had been using a fuel oil with a sulphur concentration above 0.1 percent for a number of hours before to landing in addition to continuing to operate its scrubber.
The vessel was immobilized by prosecutors until September 27, when the owner posted a bond of $85 million. The vessel then continued on its commercial voyage to Dunkirk.
Furthermore, in a statement, the prosecutor’s office said that the operating company could be fined as much as $1 million. The captain also will face prosecution in July 2024.
France has banned the use of open-loop scrubbers within three miles of French shores since January 2022, and the prohibition applies to all vessels, foreign and domestic.
