Stena Oil has received two vessels confiscated by the small West African state of Sao Tome, after accusations that the ships should have
transported contraband. Stena to pay million fine and captains sentenced to prison.
It was on March 15 that the boats would transport goods between each other, but poor weather conditions forced them to carry prey closer to shore.
This was done without asking for permission to enter the Sao Tomé waters.
According to a ship belonging to Sao Tomé coastguard's prior consent, but shortly thereafter, the Coast Guard have changed his mind and instead requested that the vessels would add to the port and then taking two captains for questioning.
After five days, the captains and the company's agent told the charges: Illegal stay on waters and smuggling.
The trial took place from 23 to 26 March and the judgment came on 29 March.
The judgment is only the question of smuggling up where the two captains sentenced to three years in prison each, the ships and their goods confiscated.
In a document that addresses verdict also requested damages of only five million U.S. dollars, and then changed to five million.
The two ships, Duzgit Integrity and Marida Melissa , is not owned by Stena oil, but is hired to transport goods.
Stena Oil is part of the Gothenburg-based Stena Group, with CEO and majority owner Dan Sten Olsson.Stena Oil says to SvD Business that it is in negotiations right now and wants with regard to the safety of personnel not comment.
How it happened
The captains of the Stena Oil chartered tankers' Marida Melissa "and" DUZGIT Integrety "were sentenced to three years in prison and payment of compensation to the State of Sao Tome.
The arrest of the two captains may include suspended sentence of two years, provided that, in conjunction with the company «Staoil 'pay compensation of about € 5 million over the next 30 days, for property damage and personal injuries caused to the State .
Moreover, Judge Alberto Monteiro declared 'lost to the State of Sao Tome, ships' Marida Melissa' and 'DUZGIT Integrity' and all cargo and goods that they have on board, and their documentation. " To the Court 1. appellate court proved that the two co-defendants are perpetrators of a "crime of smuggling." The judge took into account that the defendants, a Turkish and Ukrainian are "offenders."
In turn, the lawyer William Butt Ugly Coast, as a defender of the Government asked that the defendants were not sentenced to prison because it considers really responsible for smuggling, which was being held in the territorial waters of Sao Tome and Principe, are absent from the country. lawyers defending the accused, Pascoal Daio and Alberto Paulino, consider the absurd conviction and will appeal the sentence. should be noted that one of the defendants said in court that received guidance from a leader of Sao Tome and Principe, to enter the national maritime spatial planning, but refused to identify the person before the judge.
Both tankers were captured by the Coast Guard on 15 March for operating the six miles of the coast of Sao Tome, causing overflow fuel without authorization of the competent authorities of Sao Tome and Principe. According to maritime law that has served to support the lawyers in the trial, this type of operation can only be carried out legally the distance of 20 miles from the coast. documents presented at trial demonstrated that the business transhipment fuel near the coast of Sao Tome is being done for more than four months.
In early December, one of the vessels did overfill fuel for one of the company's vessels 'Blue Sky', which was anchored off São Tomé, under the controversial floating port, promoted by the government led by former Prime Minister Patrice Thunderstorm. zone of the islet of Rolas, in southern Sao Tome Island, 3 miles from the coast, was one of the venues of illegal activity. was the first case of smuggling in maritime territory santomense tried in Sao Tome and Principe. The country is endowed with a radar system that controls all activity maritime region in the Gulf of Guinea.
Meanwhile, Sonangol has declined "any liability for the acts of these ships, while reaffirming its commitment and respect for international legal norms and procedures, and shipping." In a statement to the NNP had access to Angolan oil company states that 'none of the ships and their crews learned are owned by Sonangol Shipping (Luanda) Limited, and so little are at your service.'tankers' Marida Melissa "and" DUZGIT Integrety "have flag Malta and the Marshall Islands.
Chemical tanker Marida Melissa, IMO 9438169, dwt 13121, built 2009, flag Marshall Islands, manager MARIDA TANKERS INC, USA. Chemical tanker Duzgit Integrity, IMO 9380415, dwt 10736, built 2008, flag Malta, manager DSM GEMI ISLETMECILIGI AS, Turkey.
It was on March 15 that the boats would transport goods between each other, but poor weather conditions forced them to carry prey closer to shore.
This was done without asking for permission to enter the Sao Tomé waters.
According to a ship belonging to Sao Tomé coastguard's prior consent, but shortly thereafter, the Coast Guard have changed his mind and instead requested that the vessels would add to the port and then taking two captains for questioning.
After five days, the captains and the company's agent told the charges: Illegal stay on waters and smuggling.
The trial took place from 23 to 26 March and the judgment came on 29 March.
The judgment is only the question of smuggling up where the two captains sentenced to three years in prison each, the ships and their goods confiscated.
In a document that addresses verdict also requested damages of only five million U.S. dollars, and then changed to five million.
The two ships, Duzgit Integrity and Marida Melissa , is not owned by Stena oil, but is hired to transport goods.
Stena Oil is part of the Gothenburg-based Stena Group, with CEO and majority owner Dan Sten Olsson.Stena Oil says to SvD Business that it is in negotiations right now and wants with regard to the safety of personnel not comment.
How it happened
The captains of the Stena Oil chartered tankers' Marida Melissa "and" DUZGIT Integrety "were sentenced to three years in prison and payment of compensation to the State of Sao Tome.
The arrest of the two captains may include suspended sentence of two years, provided that, in conjunction with the company «Staoil 'pay compensation of about € 5 million over the next 30 days, for property damage and personal injuries caused to the State .
Moreover, Judge Alberto Monteiro declared 'lost to the State of Sao Tome, ships' Marida Melissa' and 'DUZGIT Integrity' and all cargo and goods that they have on board, and their documentation. " To the Court 1. appellate court proved that the two co-defendants are perpetrators of a "crime of smuggling." The judge took into account that the defendants, a Turkish and Ukrainian are "offenders."
In turn, the lawyer William Butt Ugly Coast, as a defender of the Government asked that the defendants were not sentenced to prison because it considers really responsible for smuggling, which was being held in the territorial waters of Sao Tome and Principe, are absent from the country. lawyers defending the accused, Pascoal Daio and Alberto Paulino, consider the absurd conviction and will appeal the sentence. should be noted that one of the defendants said in court that received guidance from a leader of Sao Tome and Principe, to enter the national maritime spatial planning, but refused to identify the person before the judge.
Both tankers were captured by the Coast Guard on 15 March for operating the six miles of the coast of Sao Tome, causing overflow fuel without authorization of the competent authorities of Sao Tome and Principe. According to maritime law that has served to support the lawyers in the trial, this type of operation can only be carried out legally the distance of 20 miles from the coast. documents presented at trial demonstrated that the business transhipment fuel near the coast of Sao Tome is being done for more than four months.
In early December, one of the vessels did overfill fuel for one of the company's vessels 'Blue Sky', which was anchored off São Tomé, under the controversial floating port, promoted by the government led by former Prime Minister Patrice Thunderstorm. zone of the islet of Rolas, in southern Sao Tome Island, 3 miles from the coast, was one of the venues of illegal activity. was the first case of smuggling in maritime territory santomense tried in Sao Tome and Principe. The country is endowed with a radar system that controls all activity maritime region in the Gulf of Guinea.
Meanwhile, Sonangol has declined "any liability for the acts of these ships, while reaffirming its commitment and respect for international legal norms and procedures, and shipping." In a statement to the NNP had access to Angolan oil company states that 'none of the ships and their crews learned are owned by Sonangol Shipping (Luanda) Limited, and so little are at your service.'tankers' Marida Melissa "and" DUZGIT Integrety "have flag Malta and the Marshall Islands.
Chemical tanker Marida Melissa, IMO 9438169, dwt 13121, built 2009, flag Marshall Islands, manager MARIDA TANKERS INC, USA. Chemical tanker Duzgit Integrity, IMO 9380415, dwt 10736, built 2008, flag Malta, manager DSM GEMI ISLETMECILIGI AS, Turkey.