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Vessel Pollution News

14 Jul 2020

Phillips Joins WQIS as Senior Underwriter

John P. Phillips

The Water Quality Insurance Syndicate (WQIS) appointed John P. Phillips as Senior Underwriter based in Houston, TX. Phillips will report to Justin A. Mongello in New York, NY."We are very excited to have John join the WQIS team as he brings a wealth of experience, expertise, and first-hand knowledge of WQIS' customers and our broker partners. For certain a great addition to our team," said Justin.Phillips was most recently Head of Marine Programs at Aspen Insurance U.S.-based in Houston, in charge of the development and management of all Specialty Marine Programs throughout the Americas.

11 Feb 2020

BSM Fined $1.75 Mln for Illegal Bilge Dumping

Operator Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (Singapore) on Monday pleaded guilty in federal court to maintaining false and incomplete records relating to the discharge of bilge waste from the tanker vessel Topaz Express, a felony violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships.According to court documents and information presented in court, the defendants illegally dumped bilge waste from the Hong Kong-flagged Topaz Express directly into the ocean, without properly processing it through pollution prevention equipment. The defendants admitted that these illegal discharges were not recorded in the vessel’s oil record book as required by law.

03 Feb 2020

Canada Boosts Marine Surveillance

(Photo: National Aerial Surveillance Program)

Canada's new eye in the sky will help detect oil spills and other marine pollution, and monitor ship and endangered whale movements.Minister of Transport Marc Garneau announced that Transport Canada has acquired a new addition to its National Aerial Surveillance Program’s aircraft fleet in an effort to enhance prevention measures needed to respond to marine pollution incidents faster and more effectively, and to better protect marine ecosystems and habitats.The De Havilland Dash 8 aircraft


19 Apr 2019

D'Amico Fined $4mln for US Pollution Violations

d’Amico Shipping Italia will pay a USD 4 million penalty and be placed on probation for four years after violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships in the US.The Italian shipping company has admitted discharging oily waste and other pollutants into the sea and then lying about it, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito and Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark announced.The company pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court to an information charging it with violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships.Under terms of the plea agreement, d’Amico will pay a $4 million penalty and be placed on probation for four years.During probation


19 Apr 2019

Shipping Firm Fined $4M for Pollution Violation

File Image: AdobeStock / © Renaschild

$1 Million Will Go to Projects that Support Cleanup of Marine Pollution, Preservation of Aquatic Life, and Restoration of Shorelines around Newark Bay.A shipping company based in Italy today admitted discharging oily waste and other pollutants into the sea and then lying about it, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito and Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark announced.The company, d’Amico Shipping Italia S.p.A., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court to an information charging it with violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships.

18 May 2017

OP/Ed: CVIDA Good for Environment & Economy

© Kenneth Keifer / Adobe Stock

I think it safe to say everyone agrees the discharge of ballast water has introduced non-native species to ports and harbors worldwide and more must be done to stop future invasions. Unfortunately, beyond that, there’s less agreement, much less. As a result, here in the United States we have two federal agencies, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), plus, at last count, 25 states regulating discharges incidental to the normal operation of vessels, 16 of which are specific to ballast water.

20 Apr 2017

Princess Cruises Fined $40 Mln for Pollution

Caribbean Princess (Photo: Princess Cruise Lines Ltd.)

Princess Cruise Lines Ltd. was sentenced to pay a $40 million penalty – the largest-ever for crimes involving deliberate vessel pollution – related to illegal dumping overboard of oil contaminated waste and falsification of official logs in order to conceal the discharges. The sentence was announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey H. Wood for the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg for the Southern District of Florida in Miami. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Patricia A.

03 Mar 2017

Oily Water Separator Systems: Practical Advice

© chokniti / Adobe Stock

Magic Pipes, 15 PPM alarms, crew familiarization, improper entries in the oil record book, oil record book not maintained: these are all terms used by various Port State Control (PSC) officers worldwide when referencing the oily water separator. When PSC so decides, it also has the option of making one of these an ISM deficiency, adding another black mark against a vessel. Nevertheless, even with such an important piece of equipment and the records documenting its proper use, both are often neglected.

12 Apr 2016

DSD Shipping Fined $2.5m Over Oil Dumping

Norwegian shipping company DSD Shipping has been fined $2.5m in a US federal court for oil dumping from an aframax. DSD has been sentenced of its convictions in Mobile, Alabama, for obstructing justice, violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), tampering with witnesses and conspiring to commit these offenses. Three crew from the 104,000-dwt Stavanger Blossom (built 2007) were also convicted and sentenced to up to six months in jail. $500,000 of the $2.5 million fine is said to have been ordered to be paid to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation to support marine research and coastal habitat protection in the Gulf of Mexico and Mobile Bay.

11 Apr 2016

DSD to Pay $2.5 Mln for Illegal Oil Discharging

The Norwegian shipping company DSD Shipping (DSD) was sentenced to pay a total corporate penalty of $2.5 million as a result of its convictions in Mobile, Alabama, for obstructing justice, violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), tampering with witnesses and conspiring to commit these offenses. The company was ordered to pay $500,000 of the penalty to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation to fund marine research and enhance coastal habitats in the Gulf of Mexico and Mobile Bay. In addition, DSD was placed on a three year term of probation and was ordered to implement an environmental compliance plan to ensure the company’s vessels obeyed domestic and international environmental regulations in the future. The sentence was announced by Assistant Attorney General John C.

20 Jan 2016

Safe Harbor Pollution Insurance Broadens In-house Capacity

Safe Harbor Pollution Insurance broadens panel of security, increases marine pollution capacity    Vessel pollution liability insurance company Safe Harbor Pollution Insurance announced it has expanded its carrier partnerships to include Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (BHSI) and Argonaut Insurance Company.   With this expanded panel, Safe Harbor said it has more than tripled its in-house capacity. BHSI, which carries a financial strength rating of A++ from AM Best, and Argonaut, rated A by AM Best, join A rated Starr Indemnity & Liability Company on the Safe Harbor panel.   Safe Harbor Pollution Insurance is a member of the Falvey Insurance Group, a MGA group specializing in cargo, yacht and marine pollution.

14 Dec 2015

Ship Officers Charged in Oil Discharge Cover Up

A federal grand jury in Greenville, North Carolina, has returned a nine-count indictment charging two engineering officers employed by Oceanfleet Shipping Limited with crimes relating to the illegal discharge of oily wastes directly into the sea, announced Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden for the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and U.S. Attorney Thomas G. Walker for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Oceanfleet Shipping Limited is a Greek shipping company that operates the cargo carrier M/V Ocean Hope. The two engineering officers indicted are the vessel’s Chief Engineer, Rustico Yabut Ignacio; and Second Engineer, Cassius Flores Samson, bolth of the Philippines.

18 Dec 2014

Italian Shipbuilder Pleads Guilty to Environmental Crimes

An Italian shipping firm based in Genoa, Italy, pleaded guilty to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships by falsifying required ships’ documents to hide the fact that the ship had illegally discharged oil contaminated waste into the ocean on multiple occasions, announced the Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Carbofin S.PA. (Carbofin) agreed to plead


18 Nov 2014

WQIS President Hobbie to Retire

Richard Hobbie III (Photo: WQIS)

Richard Hobbie III will retire from his position as President & CEO of the Water Quality Insurance Syndicate (WQIS) after four decades as underwriter, claims manager and board member. Hobbie and the board of managers have agreed upon January 1, 2015 as his official retirement date, and Rich will be available as a consultant to WQIS until Dec. 31, 2017 under the agreement. “This is something that I’ve been considering for a while now, but I needed to feel absolutely sure that WQIS was going to be in good hands,” Hobbie said.

13 Jun 2014

WQIS to Release New Policy Form for 2014

On June 16, 2014 the Water Quality Insurance Syndicate (WQIS) will offer a new 2014 Worldwide Vessel Pollution Form. The new policy form will contain enhanced coverage that will follow the WQIS tradition of offering assureds the most comprehensive vessel pollution coverage in the industry. “We are constantly monitoring the market and researching how we can better support our assureds in an ever-changing world,” said Richard H. Hobbie III, WQIS President and CEO. Inclusion of State Fines and Penalties with an increased sub-limit to $1,000,000. 100% of Additional Public Relations coverage (formerly 80%). An increase in the Criminal Defense Limit without prior approval to $10,000; an increase in the per occurrence limit for Criminal Defense and the annual aggregate sub-limit to $100,000.

18 Dec 2013

Safe Harbor Unveils Online Broker Portal

In the first phase of a new website rollout, Safe Harbor Pollution Insurance (SHPI) delivers the ultimate in electronic convenience with its My Harbor broker portal. This industry-leading platform enables real-time policy and claim access, empowering brokers to better service customers. Brokers enter the personalized gateway by registering at www.safeharborpollution.com/myharbor. The unique portal grants instant access to all quotes and policies, as well as the ability to view claims and print loss runs. Brokers can also make non-rated changes through My Harbor. "Real-time information management and the ability to complete any insurance transaction with speed and ease are defining differences in SHPI services.

24 Jul 2013

Shipping Firms to Pay $10.4 Million in Pollution Penalties

Two shipping firms based in Germany and Cyprus were sentenced today in federal court in Newark, N.J., to pay a $10.4 million penalty for felony obstruction of justice charges and violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships related to the deliberate concealment of vessel pollution from four ships that visited ports in New Jersey, Delaware and Northern California, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in New Jersey and Delaware, the U.S. Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division and the U.S. Coast Guard announced. Columbia Shipmanagement (Deutschland) GmbH (CSM-D), a German corporation, and Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd.

19 Apr 2013

Falvey Announces New Pollution Insurance Division

Falvey Insurance Group has formed a new division, Safe Harbor Pollution Insurance. Offering some of the broadest terms available in the commercial market, Safe Harbor's Global Vessel Pollution Policy provides comprehensive protection for any vessel, owner or operator. Veteran insurance professionals Russ Brown, Tony Gerone and Sean Quinn bring over 35 years of experience in underwriting marine pollution coverage to the new Long Island-based company. "The establishment of Safe Harbor Pollution Insurance Company represents the realization of our longstanding vision to offer an unparalleled level of service to our marketplace," said principal Russ Brown.

03 Aug 2012

Marine Underwriting Division Launched by Blades Marine

J. H. Blades's new marine underwriting division will underwrite brown water exposures for specialty retail agents and brokers. Specific coverages will include hull and liability, protection and indemnity, builder’s risk, miscellaneous marine liability, vessel pollution, excess marine liability, bumbershoots and other related marine coverages. At the helm of the new venture is David Manion, who joins Blades Marine as Executive Vice President. Manion has spent more than 20 years in marine underwriting. He has extensive experience in the brown water exposure space as well as providing London specialty marine lines wholesale broker services. He holds a B.S. in Occupational Safety and Health from Murray State University in Kentucky.

28 Jul 2011

WQIS Celebrates 40th Anniversary

Forty years is a considerable amount of time in any case, but for the marine pollution liability industry, it’s an entire lifetime. WQIS, which essentially founded the industry in 1971, is celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2011 with signature moments taking place throughout the year. The anchor event was a cocktail party at The Public House in New York’s midtown. Attended by close to 300 industry professionals, it was a veritable who’s-who of the marine industry. “We wanted an event that was simple and elegant, but that really said ‘thank you’ to all of those in attendance, as they’re the ones who have helped us reach this milestone,” said Richard Hobbie, President of WQIS. “This is a big deal for us,” said Russ Brown, Executive Vice President of WQIS.

29 Jul 2011

WQIS Issues New Policy Form

The WQIS Policy Form 2007 will be switched over to the WQIS Worldwide Vessel Pollution Policy Form 2011 on September 1, 2011. The new form was released on June 1, 2011 and will be applicable to new and renewal businesses on or after that date. The new 2011 form was developed to better reflect the current state of the industry: enhancing coverage where gaps existed, improving organization, providing simplification and adjusting to recent legal decisions. Visit WQIS.com to learn about the specific changes in the new policy. Clients who wish to continue on with the 2007 Policy Form, subject to certain amended conditions, may do so by negotiating with your underwriter before August 31, 2011.

12 May 2011

Prem Kumar Added to EPA Fugitive List

WASHINGTON – Prem Kumar, also known as Premakumaran Krishnan, a citizen of India, has been added to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) fugitive list for failing to surrender to federal law enforcement authorities after he was indicted for his role in an illegal ocean-going vessel wastewater discharge case. Illegally discharging wastewater into the ocean threatens aquatic life and can lead to fish kills, contamination of fish and shellfish, and may have long-term ecological effects.

13 Feb 2011

EPA, USCG MOU for Enforcement & Compliance

Photo courtesy USCG

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining steps the agencies will take to better coordinate efforts to prevent illegal discharges of pollutants from more than 61,000 commercial ships based in the U.S. and more than 8,000 foreign ships operating in U.S. waters. Today’s MOU creates a framework for improving EPA and USCG cooperation on data tracking, training, monitoring, verifying compliance, and industry outreach.

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