After a $1.9 million dollar penalty for dumping oil contaminated bilge water overboard off Port Arthur, Singapore-based Thome Ship Management talked about the allegations surrounding its conviction.
The company, as well as the Egyptian Tanker Company, pleaded guilty in June for violating the APPS and covering up the illegal dumping of oil-contaminated bilge water and garbage from one of their ships into US waters. Specifically, the three contraventions identified were a failure to maintain the oil record book, failure to maintain the garbage record book, and obstruction of an agency proceeding by presenting a false oil record book and false garbage record book to the USCG.
In an official statement, Thome Ship Management notes that it has cooperated fully with a US Department of Justice investigation into the failure to comply with MARPOL Regulations committed by engineers formerly deployed on the ETC Mena tanker, following a USCG vessel examination on 26th April 2016.
“The government’s investigation did not reveal any evidence that Thome’s shore personnel, the Owner’s shore personnel or the vessel’s Captain had any involvement with or knowledge of the improper conduct”, the company says. “The Chief Engineer responsible for these actions no longer works for the company”.
Further, Thome points out that it has “acted decisively to ensure these types of incidents will not be repeated.”
“Thome has comprehensively reviewed and strengthened its Environmental Management System and practices following this incident, and has established an Environmental Compliance Department to oversee a rigorous compliance program through improved training and auditing, both ashore and onboard. The company is committed to promoting a stronger compliance culture and open and honest reporting.”
The Environmental Compliance Programme (ECP) is assisted by a government-approved third party auditor under the oversight of a court-appointed monitor. The vast majority of the ECP’s requirements have already been identified and integrated into the company’s Environmental Management System.