Tag: waste water discharge

The US Department of Justice announced that two Greek shipping companies, Avin International LTD and Nicos I.V. Special Maritime Enterprises, were sentenced in the Eastern District of Texas before Judge Marcia A. Crone on charges for several discharges of oil into the waters of Texas ports by the oil tanker M/T Nicos I.V.

A federal grand jury in Wilmington, Delaware, returned a six-count indictment on April 23, charging Chartworld Shipping Corporation, Nederland Shipping Corporation, and Chief Engineer Vasileios Mazarakis with failing to keep accurate pollution control records, falsifying records, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering, the Justice Department announced.

As from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020, new pollution fine tariffs are entering into effect in Turkey, West of England proceeds to an update concerning new pollution fines in the country. According to correspondents Metropole Maritime, the level of fines has been increased yet again by 23.73% over and above the increases already levied in December 2018.

As of 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020, new pollution fine tariffs are entering into effect in Turkey, according to data provided by Kuzei P&I Correspondents. In case of repetition of the pollution offence by the same ship within 3 years, at the first repetition, the fine amount is increased by one time more, and, at the second, the fine is calculated and imposed twice as much.

MARPOL allows unprocessed food waste to be discharged into the sea from vessels proceeding at a distance not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land. However, according to Gard not all coastal states define their ‘nearest land boundary’ in the same way.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has further delayed the release of its new Vessel General Permit (VGP 3.0), which was originally scheduled to be issued for comment in late 2017, but is now expected to be made available in March 2019 - with at least a 30-day comment period.

A third edition is under discussion with a view to replace the current version of the VGP which came into force in 2013 and is due to expire on 18th of December.

In line with continuous efforts to minimize pollution both on air and in the water, the Chinese government has issued amended Discharge Standard for Water Pollutants from Ships, which has become effective from 1 July 2018, according to Hatai Insurance Agency.

The US Coast Guard issued a bulletin summarizing key legal requirements for the proper management and disposal of oily mixtures by oceangoing vessels under 400 gross tons. Oceangoing vessels falling into this category include - but are not limited to - tugs, ferries, shuttle vessels, commercial fishing vessels, and tour boats.

Cruise lines are transforming the modern fleet with new technologies and designs that sustainably reduce the industry’s environmental footprint, notes Cruise Lines International Association.