Legal

Captain of oil tanker “PS Dream” pleads guilty for pollution violations

Captain Abdurrahman Korkmaz, in his plea, acknowledged presenting the books to Coast Guard knowing that they omitted information about discharging oily waste to ocean before arriving in United States.

Published

7 months ago

June 18, 2024

Admin

A Turkish captain of an oil tanker pleaded guilty on Tuesday (11 June) to a two-count information charging him with violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and for obstructing proceedings.

Captain Abdurrahman Korkmaz, 37, was the captain of the PS Dream, a Panama-flagged motor tanker. The two related companies that operated the PS Dream pleaded guilty last month to environmental crimes.

The PS Dream arrived in New Orleans on 26 January, 2023. The U.S. Coast Guard conducted an inspection which included a review of the vessel’s oil record books. In his plea, Korkmaz acknowledged presenting the books to the Coast Guard knowing that they omitted information about discharging oily waste to the ocean before arriving in the United States.

The falsified logs were intended to conceal the fact that beginning on 11 January, the crew had dumped oil-contaminated waste overboard on the voyage to New Orleans and was not complying with international treaties regulating oil pollution from ships.

According to documents and statements filed in court, Korkmaz ordered his crew to pump overboard from the residual oil tank which contained oily waste. A portable pump placed inside the tank and connected to a long flexible hose was used to discharge directly into the ocean without any required pollution prevention equipment or monitoring. The waste oil, including sludge, originated in the engine room and had been improperly transferred into the residual oil tank on the deck of the ship by a prior crew.

Senior managers at Prive Shipping LLC and Prive Shipping Denizcilik Ticaret – two related companies that operated the ship – were aware that the oil-contaminated waste remained in the tank and were informed by Korkmaz that it had been dumped overboard. Both companies pleaded guilty and are scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 26.

Korkmaz is scheduled to be sentenced on 10 September. He faces a maximum penalty of six years in prison, with a fine of up to USD 250,000, or twice the gain or loss from the offence, for the APPS charge.

He also faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, with a fine of up to UDD 250,000, or twice the gain or loss from the offence, for the obstruction charge.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Manifold Times previously reported that two related companies that operated PS Dream – Prive Overseas Marine LLC and Prive Shipping Denizcilik Ticaret – pleaded guilty to conspiracy, knowingly violating the APPS and obstruction of justice related to the falsification of the tanker’s Oil Record Book, which is a required log.

Photo credit: büra keskendir / MarineTraffic
Published: 18 June 2024

Related Topics:Legal - Crime Others - Environment

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Bunker Fuel

MPA: Sentek Marine & Trading bunkering licenses to expire on 3 February

Sentek will cease to be licensed from 3 February 2025 at 4pm and must not continue to operate as a bunker supplier and bunker craft operator within the Singapore Port, says MPA.

Published

2 days ago

January 21, 2025

Admin

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Monday (20 January) said the bunker supplier and bunker craft operator licences of Sentek Marine & Trading Pte Ltd (Sentek) will expire at 4pm on 3 February 2025.

“From 3 February 2025, 4pm, Sentek Marine & Trading Pte Ltd will cease to be licensed and must not continue to operate as a bunker supplier and/or bunker craft operator within the Singapore Port,” MPA said in Port Marine Circular No 2 of 2025.

On 4 September 2024, MPA initially said it would not be renewing the bunkering licences of Sentek, which would expire on 17 September and the company would cease to be licensed on and from 18 September.

However, later, MPA announced it has extended the bunkering licences of Sentek for a limited amount of time, “pending the final disposal of the appeals” by the company.

In late August last year, Manifold Times reported the General Division of the High Court dismissing an application from Sentek to quash MPA’s refusal to renew its bunker supplier and bunker craft operator licenses.

At the time, a Sentek representative told Manifold Times it was planning to appeal the High Court decision.

MPA also reminded all bunker licensees, including bunker suppliers and bunker craft operators, to comply strictly with all the terms and conditions of the respective bunker licence(s).

“MPA will not hesitate to take firm action against any licensee that contravenes any of its bunker licence terms and conditions, including taking into account such contraventions in considering whether to renew the bunker licence(s), suspending or cancelling the bunker licence(s), and/or taking enforcement action against any such bunker licensee,” it said.

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 21 January, 2025

Winding up

Singapore: Sasa Shipping Co Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Creditors of the company are required on or before 18 February 2025 to send in their names and address with particulars to firm’s liquidator at 60 Paya Lebar Road, #04-51, Paya Lebar Square, Singapore 409051.

Published

3 days ago

January 20, 2025

Admin

Several resolutions for Sasa Shipping Co Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary meeting held on 15 January, according to a notice in the Government Gazette on Friday (17 January).

The meeting was held at 28 Biopolis Road, Wilmar International, Singapore 138568 at 11am.

The duly passed resolutions were:

Special Resolution

That the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160 (1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018.

Ordinary Resolutions

That Mr. Liew Khee Soon of 60 Paya Lebar Road, #04-51, Paya Lebar Square, Singapore 409051 be and is hereby appointed as Liquidator of the Company for the purpose of such winding-up.
That the Liquidator be indemnified by the Company against all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred or sustained by him in the execution and discharge of his duties in connection with the winding-up.

In another notice, it was stated that creditors of the company are required on or before 18 February 2025 to send in their names and address with particulars (if any) to the liquidator at 60 Paya Lebar Road, #04-51, Paya Lebar Square, Singapore 409051 and if so required by notice in writing from the said Liquidator, are to come in and prove their debts or claims at such time and place as shall be specified in the notice or in default will be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such debts or claims are proved.

Photo credit: Benjamin Child
Published: 20 January, 2025

Vessel Arrest

Tanker falsely flying Guyana flag detained by Venezuelan authorities

Chemical tanker “Four Plus” which was recently detained by Venezuelan authorities for unauthorised entry into State’s waters was falsely flying Guyana flag, says Maritime Administration Department of Guyana.

Published

3 days ago

January 20, 2025

Admin

Tanker falsely flying Guyana flag detained by Venezuelan authorities

The Maritime Administration Department of Guyana on Tuesday (14 January) said chemical tanker Four Plus, bearing IMO No. 9203930, which was recently detained by Venezuelan authorities for unauthorised entry into that State’s waters was falsely flying the Guyana flag.

The department said the vessel is not registered in Guyana; therefore, it is not authorised to fly the Guyana flag or claim Guyanese nationality.

“MARAD wishes to remind stakeholders and the public that it operates a closed Ships’ Registry and does not offer a flag of convenience,” it said in a social media post.

It added that recent media reports highlighted the sanctioning of five oil tankers linked to a Syrian conglomerate with ties to Iran and Venezuela by the United States Treasury Department. These vessels also bore false registration documents.

“The issues of fraudulently registered vessels and the operation of a global shadow fleet remain on the radar of the global maritime community,” it added.

“The IMO at the 112th Session of its Legal Committee, scheduled for March this year, is expected to further develop measures to prevent these unlawful practices.”

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Peter Beentjes
Published: 20 January, 2025