Two Greek Firms to Pay USD 1.3 Mn for Dumping Oily Waste

Shipspotting The ship operator Angelakos Hellas SA and ship owner Gallia Graeca Shipping were ordered by U.S. District Court in Seattle to pay a USD 1.3 million fine for dumping oily waste at sea, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, a 735-foot bulk carrier MV Gallia Graeca, owned and operated by the companies, travelled from China to Seattle in October 2015. During the voyage, a pollution-control device known as an oil water separator was inoperable. On October 16, 26 and 27, 2015, the defendants discharged overboard approximately 5,000 gallons of oily bilge water. The defendants concealed these incidents from the Coast Guard by making false statements to inspectors, and making false statements and omissions in the ship’s oil record book. The ship operator and the ship owner were found guilty in June 2016 of violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, Falsification of Records in a Federal Investigation, and engaging in a Scheme to Defraud the United States. The companies were placed on five years of probation and required to have environmental compliance plans in place which will ensure they are abiding by anti-pollution policies and regulations. In addition to the USD 1.3 million fine, the companies were ordered to make a USD 200,000 community service payment. Image Courtesy: Shipspotting