TWO Greek Shipping companies have been ordered to pay a combined US$2.7 million for illegally dumping oily wastes into the ocean by the US Justice Department.
The companies were charged with violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), tampering with witnesses and conspiracy. The case started with an inspection of the cargo vessel Ocean Hope by the coast guard at the Port of Wilmington, North Carolina in July 2015.
During the inspection, it was discovered that senior engineers for the companies attempted to hide that the vessel had been dumping oily wastes into the ocean for months, the Justice Department said.
Oceanfleet Shipping Ltd., the vessel's operator, was sentenced to pay a $1.35 million fine and make a $450,000 community service payment to Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. Oceanic Illsabe Ltd., the vessel's corporate owner, was sentenced to pay a $675,000 fine and make a $225,000 community service payment to the reef.
The Justice Department said both companies were placed on a five-year term of probation and barred from sending ships to US ports until their financial penalties has been satisfied.
Though managed from Greece, Oceanic Illsabe is registered in Liberia. The vessel's two senior engineers were previously convicted and sentenced to serve prison sentences related to these crimes, according to American Shipper.