The following article published by Manifold Times on 18 March was sourced from China’s domestic market through a local correspondent. An online translation service was used in the production of the current editorial piece:
Officials from the Nantong Rugao Maritime Office recently caught local oil tanker Changfeng falsely declaring its cargo of fuel oil as asphalt, according to local media Voice of Nantong.
Authorities on Thursday (10 March), though an inventory management and control system, found the oil tanker docked within the temporary berthing area of Rugao port for a long period of time without making declarations of the entry and exit of dangerous goods on board.
Further verification found the vessel to be entering and exiting Yuanbang oil depot several times within the past two months without leaving the port, giving rise to suspicions that the ship is engaging in illicit activity.
On the next day, enforcement officers from Nantong Rugao Maritime Department carried out an on-site supervision and inspection of the ship with sampling bottles. An inspection found the ship declaring the cargo on board to the Rugao Transportation Bureau as asphalt.
However, a physical inspection of the cargo and the oil record book found the tanker to be carrying 2,100 metric tonnes (mt) of fuel oil loaded from Yuanbang Wharf.
The ship’s owner admitted to the illegal act of falsely reporting fuel oil as asphalt and the case has been handed over to the Rugao Marine Department for further investigations.
According to Article 25 of the “Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Administrative Penalties for Inland Waters”, a vessel falsely declaring the nature of dangerous goods when reporting to the maritime administrative agency shall have its owner fined not less than RMB 50,000 (USD 7,900) but not more than RMB 100,000 (USD 15,700).
The “Jiangsu Maritime Regulatory Field Credit Management Regulations” states concealment and false reporting as “serious dishonesty” with such acts being included in a blacklist for punishment.
Photo credit: Voice of Nantong
Published: 18 March, 2022
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