According to U.S. Department of Justice, Zeaborn Ship Management (Singapore) pleaded guilty to maintaining false and incomplete records relating to the discharge of oily bilge water and garbage on board the vessel Star Maia.
In particular, the company has agreed to pay $2 million fine. The company’s Chief Engineer, Constancio Estuye, and Captain, Alexander Parreno, also pleaded guilty for their roles in the crimes.
According to court documents, the company between June and October 2022, they dumped over at least four times, 7,500 gallons of oily bilge water from the Star Maia into the ocean without first processing the oily bilge water through required pollution prevention equipment.
In addition to the illegal discharges of oily bilge water, Zeaborn and Parreno admitted that on at least three or four occasions between June and August 2022, they had burned garbage, including paper, plastics and oily rags, in barrels on the Star Maia’s deck. The barrels were then thrown into the ocean. This garbage burning and barrel disposal was not recorded in the vessel’s garbage record book, as required by law.
Illegally dumping oily waste and garbage at sea poses a serious threat to the health and viability of the marine environment.
..said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.
This prosecution highlights the Justice Department and the U.S. Coast Guard’s continued dedication in safeguarding our maritime environment against those that seek to deliberately harm our natural resources.
..said Sector Commander Captain James W. Spitler of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Sector San Diego.
As explained, the community service payment will go to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to fund projects to benefit marine and coastal natural resources located in or around the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve in Southern California. Zeaborn will also serve a four-year term of probation during which any vessels operated by the company and calling on U.S. ports will be required to implement a robust environmental compliance plan.
Estuye and Parreno each pleaded guilty to one felony violation of the APPS for failing to accurately maintain the oil and garbage record books for the Star Maia. Sentencing for defendants Zeaborn, Estuve and Parreno is set for Dec. 1.