Only when Coast Guard officials boarded a vessel did the crew notify authorities of issues with its cargo, a charge from a U.S. District Court in Rhode Island said was an environmental crime. File Photo courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard
Aug. 9 (UPI) — A Greek oil tanker owner is ordered to pay a $2.25 million in fines for discharging oily bilge water and failing to disclose issues with its cargo tanks during a cross-Atlantic voyage, a charge that a Rhode Island court said amounted to environmental crimes.
U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy ordered Zues Lines Management, which owns and operates the Galissas, to pay $1.68 million in fines and a service payment of $562,500 that will go to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
“Additionally, Zeus will serve a four-year term of probation, during which any vessels operated by the company and calling on U.S. ports will be required to implement a robust environmental compliance plan,” the U.S. attorney’s office in the District of Rhode Island said late Tuesday.
Galissas was carrying a cargo of diesel from the Dutch port at Rotterdam in February 2022, but later released 10,000 gallons, or around 300 barrels of oil equivalent, of bilge water during its journey.
The operator did not disclose the hazardous condition of its cargo tank to the U.S. Coast Guard when it approached U.S. territorial waters.
“Oily bilge water typically contains oil contamination from the operation and cleaning of machinery on the vessel,” the attorney’s office said.
Only when Coast Guard authorities boarded the vessel for inspection did the captain reveal the issue, the attorney’s office said. The operator and captain are also accused of falsifying its logbooks to avoid scrutiny.
Roberto Penaflor, the chief engineer, admitted to violating U.S. laws on maritime pollution from ships.