Nelson Cohen News

Owners of a ship that ran aground on an Aleutian Island will plead guilty to illegally discharging its cargo and have agreed to pay a hefty fine, reports said. IMC Shipping Co. Pte. Ltd. (IMC) of Singapore will also plead guilty to killing hundreds of seabirds when its 738-ft. freighter, Selendang Ayu, ran aground Dec. 8, 2004, and broke in two on the north side of Unalaska Island, said U.S. Attorney Nelson Cohen. The vessel was carrying an estimated 442,000 gallons of fuel oil and some diesel. About 336,000 gallons of intermediate fuel oil and diesel spilled, along with 66,000 tons of soybeans. During rescue operations, a Coast Guard helicopter carrying Selendang Ayu crew members from the tanker crashed.