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...]
Portuguese Shipping Company to Pay $1.5 Million Criminal Fine in ‘Magic Pipe’ Case in U.S.
Portuguese shipping company Portline Bulk International has pleaded guilty in federal court Charleston, South Carolina to one count of violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships and one count of Obstruction related to use of a so-called “magic pipe” onboard one of its ships calling in the United States. According to Justice Department press release, from April 2017 to … [Read more...]
U.S. Charges Greek Ship Operator and Two Engineers Over Oily Waste Dumping, Cover-Up
The United States has charged a Greek cargo ship operator and two of its chief engineers with environmental crimes for allegedly failing to record the illegal dumping of oily waste into international waters and then obstructing justice by ordering the ship’s crew to lie about it. A federal grand jury in Los Angeles last week returned the five-count federal … [Read more...]
Carnival to Pay $20 Million Fine After Admitting to Probation Violations in U.S.
Prince Cruise Lines and its parent company Carnival Cruise Lines have been ordered to pay a $20 million criminal fine after admitting to violating the terms of its probation stemming from a previous conviction in which Princess was sentenced to pay a $40 million fine. Princess Cruise Line was convicted and sentenced in April 2017 after pleading guilty to … [Read more...]
Russian Captain Acquitted of MARPOL Violations in U.S.
A jury in the Western District of Louisiana has acquitted the Russian Master of an oil tanker on all charges related to illegal discharges from the vessel. After spending more than 19 months detained in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Captain Vjaceslavs Birzakovs, Master of the oil tanker RIDGEBURY ALEXANDRA Z, will now be able to return to Russia following his complete acquittal … [Read more...]