According to the US Department of Justice (DOJ), two Greek shipping companies were sentenced for violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), falsifying records, and obstructing justice during two U.S. port calls in 2022.
These violations involved the illegal discharge of oily bilge water from a tanker into the sea, bypassing pollution prevention equipment. The incidents occurred in May 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida, and September 2022 at the Sewaren Terminal in Newark, New Jersey. To avoid detection, the crew falsified the ship’s oil record book and concealed the equipment used to carry out the discharges.
The companies were ordered to pay a combined $4.5 million in penalties, including a $3.375 million criminal fine and a $1.125 million community service payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. They were also placed on five years of probation and must follow strict environmental compliance plans monitored by the U.S. government.
Investigations revealed that the vessel’s crew discharged oily waste through the sewage system, bypassing required pollution controls. Pumps and hoses used for the operation were hidden in a sealed space, known as a “cofferdam,” to mislead U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) inspectors. The vessel’s chief engineer admitted to falsifying records and directing the concealment of equipment, while the second engineer admitted to presenting false records to the USCG. Both engineers were sentenced, with the chief engineer fined $5,000 and both serving time already in custody.
Officials underscored that such actions prioritize profits over environmental protection, posing significant harm to marine ecosystems. The USCG and Department of Justice emphasized their commitment to enforcing maritime pollution laws and urged the public to report suspicious activities onboard vessels to prevent similar illegal practices.
To remind, in 2023, a chief engineer was sentenced to twelve months and a day in prison after being convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and failure to maintain an accurate Oil Record Book.