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Ship Chief Engineer pleads guilty to intentional discharge of oily waste and obstruction of justice charges in New Orleans

Kirill Kompaniets and a subordinate engineer deliberately dumped oil contaminated water from bilge tanks overboard during the late night of 13 to 14 March.

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Russian national Kirill Kompaniets, the Chief Engineer of a commercial bulk carrier registered in the Marshall Islands, pleaded guilty on Wednesday (May 18) to two felony counts for deliberately discharging approximately 10,000 gallons of oil-contaminated bilge water overboard in U.S. waters off the coast of New Orleans last year.

He then tried to obstruct the Coast Guard’s investigation of the spill, according to the United States Department of Justice. 

The illegal conduct was first reported to the Coast Guard by a crew member via social media.

He was charged with the illegal discharge in violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships. 

According to papers filed in Court, repair operations were underway to correct a problem with the discharge of clean ballast water when a valve burst and the engine room flooded.  

Late on the night of 13 to 14 March, 2021 after the leak had been controlled, Kompaniets and a subordinate engineer deliberately dumped the oil contaminated water in the bilges overboard. 

The discharge into U.S. waters occurred while the ship was at an anchorage near the South West Passage off the Louisiana coast. 

The ship’s required pollution prevention equipment – an oily-water separator and oil content monitor – were not used, and the discharge was not recorded in the Oil Record Book, a required ship log.

Kompaniets was also charged with obstruction of justice based on various efforts to conceal the illegal discharge. 

In a joint factual statement filed in Court with his guilty plea, Kompaniets admitted to the following acts of obstruction of justice: 

  1. Making false statements to the Coast Guard that concealed the cause and nature of a hazardous condition, and concealing that the engine room of the vessel had flooded and that oil-contaminated bilge water had been discharged overboard; 
  2. Destroying the computer alarm printouts for the period of the illegal discharge that were sought by the Coast Guard; 
  3. Holding meetings with subordinate crew members and directing them to make false statements to the Coast Guard; 
  4. Making a false Oil Record Book that failed to disclose the illegal discharge; 
  5. Directing subordinate engine room employees to delete all evidence from their cell phones in anticipation of the Coast Guard inspection; and 
  6. Preparing a retaliatory document accusing the whistleblower of poor performance as part of an effort to discredit him.

“The intentional pollution of U.S. waters and the deliberate effort to cover up the crime are extremely serious criminal offenses that will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. 

“Prosecutions such as this one should send a clear message to those that would violate the law and endanger our precious natural resources.”

“The defendant in this case deliberately disregarded procedures designed to protect the environment from contaminants and then attempted to hide his actions,” said U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. 

“Today’s announcement emphasizes that our office along with our federal partners are committed to holding accountable all parties whose criminality jeopardizes our environment and places the public and the ecosystem at risk.”

The investigation is continuing and sentencing has been scheduled for September 1.

 

Photo credit: Bill Oxford
Published: 24 May, 2022

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Legal

Four Dutch seafarers charged for alleged roles in causing Singapore oil spill

Four men on Netherlands-flagged dredger “Vox Maxima” were charged under Merchant Shipping Act 1995 on 6 November and will appear in court again on 4 December.

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Martin Klingsick / MarineTraffic

Singapore has brought charges against four crewmen who were working on Netherlands-flagged dredger Vox Maxima for their alleged role in causing the disastrous bunker spill into the republic’s sea, according to a report by The Straits Times on Wednesday (6 November).

Singapore-flagged bunker vessel Marine Honour was hit by Netherlands-flagged dredger Vox Maxima at Pasir Panjang Terminal on 14 June, which resulted in an oil spill in Singapore waters.

The dredger reportedly lost engine and steering control before crashing Marine Honour.

The four men, all Dutch nationals, – Merijn Heidema, 25; Martin Hans Sinke, 48; Richard Ouwehand, 49; and Eric Peijpers, 55 – allegedly failed to ensure that emergency steering was carried out when emergency power was supplied to the vessel’s steering gear pumps, resulting in the allision. 

They were each charged under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 on 6 November. 

Heidema and Peijpers, who were responsible for the engineering watch, were accused of failing to ensure a sufficient reserve of power was available for Vox Maxima’s steering gear when the engine room was put in a standby condition.

Their cases have been adjourned to 4 December.

Manifold Times previously reported Vox Maxima was found to have serious deficiencies relating to fire safety and life-saving equipment aboard. 

A total of 13 deficiencies were flagged during the 15 June inspection of the dredger. Three out of the 13 warranted detention of the vessel which indicated serious deficiencies that required repairs before it could be permitted to leave the port. 

Related: Thirteen deficiencies flagged during inspection for dredger involved in Singapore oil spill
Related: Singapore oil spill: Minister refutes claim that contractor was slow in preventing further spillage
Related: MPA: Claims exceeding liability of “Marine Honour” owner will be made against international fund
Related: MPA: Owner of bunker tanker involved in Singapore oil spill is liable for pollution damage
Related: Malaysia to look into demands of Johor fisherman affected by oil spill from Singapore
Related: Singapore oil spill: Clean-up enters next phase of cleaning rock bunds
Related: MPA: Clean-up ops continue following oil spill in Singapore, affected beaches closed
Related: Singapore: Oil spill cleanup after allision between dredger “Vox Maxima” and bunker tanker “Marine Honour”

 

Photo credit: Martin Klingsick / MarineTraffic
Published: 7 November, 2024

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Biofuel

Chimbusco Pan Nation completes first B24 bio bunker fuel delivery in Singapore

CPN supplied 1,000 metric tonnes of ISCC-EU Certified B24 marine biofuel for “YM WITNESS”, a containership of Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp on 16 October.

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Chimbusco Pan Nation completes first B24 bio bunker fuel delivery in Singapore

Hong Kong-based marine fuel oil supplier Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical (CPN) on Wednesday (6 November) completed the supply of 1,000 metric tonnes of ISCC-EU Certified B24 marine biofuel for YM WITNESS, a containership of Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp on 16 October. 

“This also embarks on CPN’s new journey to arrange supplying marine biofuel in Singapore,” the firm said in a social media post. 

B24 marine biofuel is a blend of 24% B100 biodiesel and Marine Fuel Oil, which significantly reduces carbon emissions and lowers its carbon footprint. Such product aligns with global efforts to combat climate change and reduces environmental impact. 

“CPN is committed to be the frontrunner in the transition towards more sustainable marine fuel options. This biofuel delivery reinforces CPN’s commitment to realizing eco-friendly port energy solutions and global decarbonisation goals,” it added. 

 

Photo credit: Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical
Published: 7 November, 2024

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LNG Bunkering

Titan completes LNG bunkering operation in Port of Zeebrugge

Titan supplied newly built PCTC “Peony Leader” using bunkering vessel “Optimus”, marking the PCTC’s maiden LNG bunkering operation.

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Titan completes LNG bunkering operation in Port of Zeebrugge

LNG bunker fuel supplier Titan on Wednesday (6 November) said it has completed a LNG bunkering operation in the Port of Zeebrugge. 

Titan supplied the newly built Peony Leader Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) using Optimus – one of its LNG bunkering vessels (LBV).

“This was the maiden voyage for the Peony Leader, as well as the first time it bunkered LNG while in service. The Optimus’ crew closely supported throughout the process, providing guidance and information to the seafarers onboard the vehicle carrier,” it said in a social media post. 

“Our commercial team also visited CSP Zeebrugge to meet the new client, Chimbusco. With a greatly increasing number of PCTC newbuilds being LNG dual-fuelled, we look forward to many more successful LNG bunkering operations with Chimbusco and other shipowners in this segment.”

 

Photo credit: Titan
Published: 7 November, 2024

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