U.S. DOJ: Shipping Companies Fined $1.5M for Illegal Discharges
The German shipping companies Briese Schiffahrts GmbH & Co. KG and Briese Schiffahrts GmbH & Co. KG MS “Extum,” who owned and operated the cargo ship M/V BBC Magellan, pleaded guilty today to failure to maintain an accurate oil record book, in violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships and tampering with witnesses by persuading them to provide false statements to the U.S. Coast Guard concerning a bypass hose on the vessel that was being used to discharge oil into the sea. The two companies were sentenced to pay a total of $1.25 million in fines and a $250,000 community service payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to fund projects that enhance coastal habitats of the Gulf of Mexico and bolster priority fish and wildlife populations.
Company Profile: Offshore Inland
With Offshore Inland Marine & Oilfield Services Inc (OIMO), a leader in topside and riding crew repair services, experiencing strong growth before the drilling market softened, the company knew its days in Mobile, Ala., were numbered, as it had outgrown its five acre facility and fabrication shop. But it didn’t have to go far, earlier this year moving 60 miles east to Pensacola, FL, finding the backing of a strong maritime community with a wealth of technical talent, not to mention vastly improved facilities.
Energy Markets Buoy U.S. Shipbuilding
Proliferation of energy related transport continues to drive commercial U.S. As the United States aims towards energy independence by the end of this decade, domestic shipyards and vessels owners are reaping rewards from this most unexpected turn of events. Hydraulic Fracturing, or fracking, has been the main (and well publicized) culprit in the rapid turn of events. While the proliferation of gas has been widely known for years, the presence of oil, in quantity, was a pleasant…
OIMOS Expands Operations
Offshore Inland Marine and Oilfield Services (OIMOS) today announced plans to expand operations at the Port of Pensacola thanks to shore-side improvements at the Port allowing more vessel service calls at Offshore Inland’s growing subsea support business base there. These plans include the installation of a 1200-amp shore power terminal, and a pier-side sewage discharge station to allow for additional service and support for Port of Pensacola customers. Seven warehouses with 265,000 square feet of available indoor storage area. Covered railcar loading and unloading.
