Ship owner Convicted for Oil Record Book Violations

The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York said that the owner and the operator of the M/T FAIR VOYAGER were convicted, following their guilty pleas, of six criminal counts. The defendants pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, one count of violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, two counts of making false statements to federal authorities, and one count of obstruction of justice – all related to dumping of waste oil and sludge on the high seas and making fraudulent entries in the ship’s oil record book. The defendants also pleaded guilty to one count of falsely reporting to the Coast Guard that the ship had been tested for the presence of explosive gasoline vapors prior to the ship’s entry into port. The master and three other crewmembers also pleaded guilty to related violations. The judge sentenced the corporate defendants to pay a fine of $1,050,000 and to donate $450,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The judge also imposed a four-year term of probation, during which time the defendants will be required to implement an environmental management system and compliance program under the supervision of a court-appointed monitor. The master and other crewmembers await sentencing. (HK Law)