The U.S. District Court of Hawaii Thursday fined shipping company Hai Soon Ship Management, the sister firm of Singapore-based bunker tanker owner Hai Soon Diesel & Trading, USD $1 million and issued a two-year term of probation over oil pollution charges, says the U.S. Department of Justice.
The Hai Soon 39, a 3,878 gross tonne bunkering vessel operated by Hai Soon Ship Management, was found to have failed to maintain an accurate oil record book in violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) while making false statements concerning the illegal dumping of oil contaminated bilge water at sea.
The company pled guilty to the charges on June 14, 2018. Pursuant to its plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Hai Soon Ship Management’s vessels operating in U.S. waters will be required to comply with a comprehensive environmental compliance plan that provides for regular inspections under the supervision of an independent auditor.
The Hai Soon 39 provided refuelling services to fishing vessels operating at sea.
International and U.S. law require vessels including the Hai Soon 39 use pollution prevention equipment to prevent the discharge of oil-contaminated bilge into the sea.
Should any overboard discharges occur, they must be recorded in an oil record book, a log that is inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard.
In October of 2017, the Chief Engineer of the Hai Soon 39, along with other engine room staff, constructed a hose in the engine room to bypass the ship’s pollution prevention equipment, including its oil water separator, and pump oily waste directly overboard.
The resultant discharges were never recorded in the ship’s oil record book, as required by APPS, and the Chief Engineer made false entries in the oil record book to make it appear that the discharges had been routed through the oil water separator when in fact they had not.
“The marine environment that surrounds the Hawaiian Islands is unique, and part of the Islands’ natural beauty,” said U.S. Attorney Kenji M. Price.
“This Office will continue to work with the U.S. Coast Guard and use every tool at its disposal to bring to justice those who violate the law by polluting the sea.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard’s Investigative Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ken Sorenson and Amalia Fenton.
Published: 14 July, 2018
Creditors to send in their names and addresses and particulars of their debts or to Baker Tilly Singapore on or before 21 February 2022.
“As the investigation is ongoing, we will not be able to provide further comments,” says Intertek.
Overturned vessel was discovered about 2.7 nautical miles off Tanjung Penyusop; no distress signal was given and all crew have been rescued to Batam.
TG 90214 TS detained at the Southwest coastal area by task force of Coast Guard Region 4 Command and escorted to Nam Can Ca Mau port.
‘Dispute has been resolved privately between MPMT and CrestSA with no further liens on the vessel.’
‘From the 105 illegal vessels detected last week, the government is missing out on MYR 1.05 million in revenue from this week alone,’ said Marine Department Director.
Transferred shares of 40 subsidiaries to BVI firm after tribunal awarded claims in favour of Trinity Seatrading; YSPL has also filed a civil complaint against DNV and Liberian ship registry at Nanjing Maritime Court.
ADNOC L&S, Gulf Energy Maritime, Cockett Marine Oil, Mideast/Bahri Ship Management and VPS experts present their views on biofuel bunker hurdles at the VPS Biofuels Seminar in Dubai on 16 March.
‘Bunker barges operate in very local areas so these vessels call at port very often which means it will be a good fit for women with families,’ states Elpi Petraki, President of WISTA International.
“Our Singapore branch is under preparation and is expected to start business at the republic before June 2023,” Managing Director Darcy Wong tells bunkering publication Manifold Times in an interview.
Development to supply B35 biodiesel blend officially takes effect on 1 February; local bunker suppliers will be able to deliver updated spec within March onwards, once current stocks of B30 avails run out.
VPS, Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation, Wilhelmsen Ship Management, and INTERTANKO executives offered a multitude of perspectives to 73 attendees during the VPS Biofuels Seminar, reports Manifold Times.
