Aqualis Offshore, Skuld Maritime Agency Under Investigation in Scrapping Case
Aqualis Offshore and Norwegian Insurer Skuld Maritime Agency are under investigation for their involvement in the attempt to illegally export the Harrier to Pakistan for scrapping.NGO Shipbreaking Platform, quoting DN said that Aqualis Offshore issued two certificates for the ship – one for a break-up voyage to Pakistan, another for a voyage to Oman – and it is suspected that the latter was issued to dupe Norwegian authorities in order to circumvent the European waste export ban.Skuld Maritime Agency was involved in issuing the last-voyage insurance for the vessel and is therefore being investigated for having aided the illegal export.The former and current owners of the ship…
Tide Carrier Under Arrest in Norway
After having been informed by the NGO Shipbreaking Platform and its member organisation Bellona that the Tide Carrier (now named HARRIER, aka EIDE CARRIER) had been sold for illegal, dirty and dangerous scrapping to a South Asian beaching facility, the Norwegian environmental authorities arrested the ship on Tuesday 5 April. The vessel is not allowed to leave Norway unless it is to sail to a ship recycling destination in line with international and European hazardous waste laws. According to the Norwegian Environment Agency, it is the first arrest of a vessel in Norway for the illegal export of hazardous waste. The Platform had been informed already during the summer of 2015 that the ship was sold for scrap.
RCRA Violation at Barge Cleaning Facility Settled for $11.2 Million
Joint Press Releases were issued by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and the Environmental Protection Agency stating that hazardous waste charges under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) have been settled with ExxonMobil Corporation. ExxonMobil has agreed to pay $11.2 million, to perform cleanup at the facility, and to comply with applicable hazardous waste laws and regulations. The defendant operated a barge cleaning and vacuuming facility at Port Mobil on Staten Island, New York. Benzene-contaminated wastes were generated at the facility and some of that waste was discharged into Arthur Kill, part of the waters of the United States. Source: HK Law
