A federal grand jury in Oakland charged two shipping companies and a First Assistant Engineer with failing to maintain an Oil Record Book for bilge water discharges into the sea and with obstruction of justice, the US Department of Justice announced.
The North Korean bulk carrier ‘Wise Honest’, which was detained for over five months in the port of Pago Pago, American Samoa, eventually departed under tow on Monday, bound for demolition, less than three months after the US revealed intentions to sell the seized vessel, following order by a federal court.
A federal judge urged Carnival to work faster, in order to mitigate ocean pollution problems, that the company has caused. Namely, during a hearing in Miami, US District Judge Patricia Seitz noted that more concrete actions and less promises are needed from Carnival.
The US Department of Justice published a statement that Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas Inc. (HCEA) and Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd (HHI) agreed to pay a $47 million civil penalty for violating Title II of the Clean Air Act.
In the US a shipowner may face emotional distress claims from third parties, passengers or crew who witness traumatic events that take place on or near an associated ship, Standard Club informs. As a result, a crew may not claim compensation for emotional damages solely from witnessing the death of another without showing physical trauma or the fear of physical trauma from witnessing the event.
US court documents reveal that the former Directors and Officers of the Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc face a US $300 million lawsuit, after allegations that they took advantage of the company’s cash and assets and contributed to its bankruptcy.
On August 28 authorities arrested a US Coast Guard member, and then sent him to San Diego, in which he will be waiting for court-martial proceedings, as he faces charges for allegedly killing a fellow seaman in Alaska. He is now waiting for an Article 32 hearing, which will decide if there is enough evidence for the arrested man to stand trial during a court-martial.
An Israeli NGO asked a court in Gibraltar to seize and sell the Iranian-controlled tanker Grace 1 to please a US court judgement. The vessel was seized on July 4 by the UK Royal Marines while passing near Gibraltar.
As the US Department of Justice published, today, the Japanese fishing company was convicted of obstruction of justice and falsifying records to cover up illegal oil and garbage pollution. The owner and operator was ordered to pay a fine of $1.5 million and will be banned from US waters and ports for five years.
The US District Court in Miami has sentenced two executives for their role in a conspiracy to fix prices of international freight forwarding services, according to the US Department of Justice. They were both charged with fixing prices in June 2018, and pleaded guilty in November 2018.
