A court in Charleston, South Carolina has charged the Liberian company Aegean Shipping Management and Marshall Islands-registered shipowner Aegeansun Gamma, as well as three engineering officers, with conspiracy and failing to keep accurate pollution control records.
The charges relate to the Liberia-flagged chemical tanker T/V Green Sky, which was investigated after it arrived in North Charleston in August 2015 and members of the engine room crew told the US coastguard that there was illegal activity on board. The coastguard investigation found alleged falsification of records and obstruction to cover up overboard discharges of oily waste water through use of a pollution equipment pipe bypass.
In February, the tanker’s former captain pleaded guilty to obstruction for knowingly making false and misleading statements to impede the coastguard’s investigation of the bypass allegations.
The defendants are due to appear in court later this month.
Source: ITF
