Maritime >> Spotlight >> Compliance RSS Document

UK – mariner sentenced for fraudulent discharge book

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) issued a

press notice stating that a mariner was sentenced to 150 hours of community service and court costs of £2,530 after pleading guilty to use of a fraudulent discharge book in an attempt to obtain documentation from the MCA. (1/2/08).

Tacoma – Captain sentenced after dumping garbage

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The US Attorney for the Western District of Washington issued a

news release stating that the captain of a freighter was sentenced to two months of home confinement and two years of supervised release after pleading guilty to failure to maintain an accurate Garbage Record Book. The captain had ordered crew members to dump oil-contaminated waste, plastic, and garbage into the ocean while the ship was en route from Korea to Longview, Washington. The shipping company had previously pleaded guilty and paid a $500,000 fine and agreed to adopt a stringent environmental compliance plan with outside auditing. (12/30/08).

Canada – fine assessed for oil discharge

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

Transport Canada issued a

news release stating that an $80,000 monetary penalty was assessed against a ship that discharged oil into the Atlantic Ocean off Nova Scotia and failed to report the discharge. The incident was detected through use of advanced equipment on Transport Canada’s surveillance aircraft patrolling off the coast. Half of the penalty will be paid to the Environmental Damages Fund to support research and other activities to lessen the impact of marine pollution. (12/15/08).

UK – ferry rider fined for failure to declare dangerous goods

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) issued a

press notice stating that driver of a vehicle boarding a ferry in Dover has been fined £7,000 plus costs for failure to declare that the vehicle was carrying dangerous goods. During questioning, the driver admitted that purchased the regular ticket, rather than the freight ticket in order to save money. It is essential that the master and crew of a vessel are aware of all dangerous goods on board so that correct action can be taken in the event of an emergency. (12/15/08).

EPA – Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance annual report

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its

annual report. Enforcement actions in the maritime sector, particularly those involving oily water separator and oil record book violations, are mentioned in the report. (12/8/08).

DOJ – tanker firm pays additional fine

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The US Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas issued a

news release stating that an oil tanker firm an additional $3 million fine after pleading guilty to additional charges relating to false entries in the oil record book of one of the company’s tankers. Prosecutors previously credited the company’s self-disclosures, cooperation, and compliance measures by proposing fewer charges and reduced criminal fines. (11/24/08).

DOJ – Ship operator pleads guilty

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The Department of Justice issued a

news release stating that a ship operator agreed to plead guilty in federal court to conspiracy and to falsifying and failing to properly maintain the ship’s oil record book. The two chief engineers on the ship during the time of these events have already pleaded guilty. The company has agreed to pay a criminal fine of $1.75 million and implement an environmental compliance program monitoring fleet-wide operations for three years. (11/10/08).

DOJ – owner & operator sentenced for conspiracy to falsify ORB

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a

press release stating that the owner, operator, and chief engineer of a cargo ship pleaded guilty to conspiracy to falsify the ship’s oil record book (ORB) and were sentenced. The owner was sentenced to pay a fine of $750,000 and to serve three years of probation. The operator was sentenced to serve three years of probation and to implement an environmental compliance program. The chief engineer was sentenced to pay a fine of $5,000 and to serve three years of probation. (10/28/08).

DOJ – marine products supply firm pleads guilty

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The US Department of Justice issued a

press release stating that a marine products supply firm pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to commit bribery in connection with a project to repair New York’s Pier 86, the principal location of the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum. The plea agreement, which awaits approval by the court, provides for payment of a criminal fine in an amount to be determined and for full cooperation in the ongoing investigation. (10/23/08).

DOJ – mariner pleads guilty to illegal license use

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The US Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana issued a

press release stating that a mariner pleaded guilty to using an altered, changed, forged and/or counterfeit US Coast Guard license to gain employment as master of a vessel. The maximum penalty is five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, three years supervised release, and a special assessment of $100. (10/15/08).

Boston – owner, manager & chief engineer indicted

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts issued a

news release stating that the owner, manager, and chief engineer of a tanker have been indicted on charges of covering up discharges to oil-contaminated waste water into the ocean. Charges include conspiracy, failing to maintain an accurate oil record book, and making a false statement to the US Coast Guard relating to alleged use of a pipe to bypass the oily water separator in the engine room on the tanker. (10/2/08).

Washington State – Garbage Record Book violation proves costly

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The US Attorney for the Western District of Washington issued a

news release stating that a shipowner has pleaded guilty of a violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS). The owner paid a criminal fine of $500,000 and made a $250,000 community service payment to a conservation organization. The company also agreed to institute an environmental compliance program and utilize outside auditors. The ship dumped oil-contaminated cargo (rice) into the ocean and failed to make appropriate entries in the Garbage Record Book. Two senior officers from the ship also pleaded guilty. (10/3/08).

DOJ – four shipping executives agree to plead guilty

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The Department of Justice issued a

press release stating that four shipping executives have agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to eliminate competition and raise prices for moving freight by ocean vessel between the continental United States and Puerto Rico. In exchange for reduced sentences the executives will cooperate fully in the Department’s ongoing antitrust investigation. A fifth executive has agreed to plead guilty to destroying evidence. (10/1/08).

UK – COLREGS violation = £6,000 fine

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency issued a

press notice stating that the delivery skipper of a yacht was fined £6,000 for violation of the Collision Regulations by navigating in the wrong direction in the Dover Straits Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS). (9/30/08).

Boston – foreign seafarer charged

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts issued a

news release stating that a foreign seafarer has been charged with failing to maintain an accurate oil record book (ORB) and with making a false statement to the US Coast Guard regarding the pumping of oily wastewater overboard. (9/18/08).

UK – asleep on the bridge

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) issued a

press notice stating that the company that managed a small freighter was fined £10,500 plus costs after being convicted of breaches of the Collision Regulations, the ISM Code, and the UK Carriage of Cargo regulations. The prosecution related to the o44o, January 10, 2007 grounding of the freighter on Swona Island in the Orkneys. The mate was standing watch alone and fell asleep. Investigation revealed that the ship sailed with minimal crew and that seamen were not used to stand watch so that they would be available for day-work. The master was earlier convicted of failing to keep an adequate look-out and was fined £2,500. (9/10/08).

Washington – owner of sunken tug fined

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The Washington State Department of Ecology issued a

news release stating that the owner of a tug that sank in the Columbia River releasing 198 gallons of lubricating oil and diesel was fined $12,000. (9/8/08).

USCG – cruise ship detained in Alaska

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The US Coast Guard issued a

press release stating that it detained a cruise ship in Alaska after finding a number of discrepancies. The ship was allowed to proceed after most of the discrepancies were corrected and a letter of undertaking was posted. (8/25/08).

DOJ – former Coast Guard officer sentenced for lying about pollution

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a

news release stating that a former Coast Guard officer was sentenced after pleading guilty to making a false statement to federal investigators regarding the illegal discharge of oily waste water from a Coast Guard cutter. At the time, the defendant was the main propulsion assistant on the cutter and was responsible for the proper discharge of waste water, among other things. The defendant was sentenced to pay a $5,000 fine, serve 200 hours of community service, and serve two years of probation. (8/20/08).

DOJ – company sentenced for Ocean Dumping Act violation

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a

news release stating that a company in Portland, Oregon was sentenced to a fine of $156,000 and to make a contribution of $84,000 for a felony conviction of the Ocean Dumping Act. A supervisor at the company had paid the master of a foreign vessel to take on board a load of unsaleable potash and to dump it at sea. (8/13/08).

DOJ – Sentencing for mishandling regulated garbage

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The US Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued a

news release stating that the operator of a marine waste disposal company was sentenced to two years probation for failure to properly handle garbage collected from commercial vessels arriving in US ports after traveling from foreign ports. The individual was required to pay $10,000 restitution for costs incurred by another company due to the mishandling. As part of his plea agreement, the individual is also forbidden from handling such waste in the future. (7/28/08).

DOJ – marine hose manufacturer and executives agree to plead guilty

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The Department of Justice issued a

news release stating that a foreign manufacturer of marine hose and two executives of marine hose manufacturing companies have agreed to plead guilty to participating in a conspiracy to fix prices. (7/28/08).

DOJ – company that managed Cosco Busan indicted

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The Department of Justice issued a

news release stating that the company that managed the COSCO BUSAN when it allided with a bridge abutment in San Francisco Bay on November 7, 2007 has been indicted for negligently causing the resulting oil spill, falsifying documents, and killing migratory birds. An indictment is merely an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. (7/23/08).

DOJ – owner, operator & chief engineer indicted

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The US Attorney for the Northern District of California issued a

news release stating that the owner, operator, and chief engineer of a ship have been indicted for offenses related to improper discharge of oily waste and garbage. An indictment is only an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. (7/9/08).

DOJ – shipping company sentenced

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

The Department of Justice issued a

news release stating that a shipping company has been sentenced to pay $1.5 million and serve three years probation in connection an improper discharge of oily waste and improper entries in the oil record book of one of its ships. During the period of probation, the company must implement a stringent environmental compliance program and hire a court-appointed monitor. (7/9/08).

Canada – fine assessed for pollution of Arctic waters

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:16:48 GMT

Transport Canada issued a

news release stating that the owner of a tugboat that was towing a fuel barge in Coronation Gulf in northern Canada was fined C$10,000 after a spill of approximately 1,000 liters of diesel fuel from the barge. Note: The news release does not, unfortunately, detail the circumstances surrounding the spill. (7/7/08).