Two Liberia-based shipping companies pled guilty today in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, to failing to notify the U.S. Coast Guard of a hazardous condition on one if its vessels, as well as violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) by showing false documents to the Coast Guard in an attempt to conceal the pollution. The plea agreement includes a $1.8 … [Read more...]
New U.S. Justice Dept. Policy May Affect Community Service Payments in MARPOL Plea Agreements
By H. Allen Black - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a new policy that may curtail the long-standing practice of requiring vessel owners and operators facing charges under the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and MARPOL to make “Community Service Payments” to non profit groups such as the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation as part of their plea … [Read more...]
U.S. Charges Liberian Ship Management Company, Shipowner, and Three Engineering Officers with Environmental Crimes
A federal grand jury in Charleston, South Carolina has returned an indictment charging Aegean Shipping Management S.A. and Aegeansun Gamma Inc. with obstruction of an agency proceeding, conspiracy and failing to keep accurate pollution control records, the Justice Department has announced. Three engineering officers were charged with related offenses. The charges stem from … [Read more...]
Shipping Company to Pay $1 Million Over Illegal Dumping in Great Lakes
A German shipping company has plead guilty and will pay $1 million for covering up illegal dumping of oily waste water from one of its vessels into the Great Lakes. The U.S. Justice Department said shipping company MST, operator of the MV Cornelia, has pleaded guilty to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) for failing to maintain an accurate ship … [Read more...]