Company charged in oily water discharge case

Company charged in oily water discharge case A Greek shipping company faces a possible $500,000 fine and a second engineer a possible five-year prison sentence after being indicted in an oil water discharge case.
   Kassian Maritime Navigation Agency Ltd. and a crewmember of the 'North Princess,' an oceangoing bulk cargo ship traveling to U.S. ports, were charged last week in a three-count indictment related to the operations of the ship, the U.S. Justice Department said.
   The company is charged with illegal dumping of bilge and wastewater in violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), making false statements to Coast Guard inspectors, and obstruction of justice in relation to the Coast Guard’s inspection of the 'North Princess.' Spyridon Markou, who was second engineer, is also charged with obstruction of justice with regard to the ship’s inspection.
   According to the indictment, after the 'North Princess' arrived in port in Jacksonville, Fla., last November, it was boarded by Coast Guard officials who conducted an inspection to determine the vessel’s compliance with environmental laws.
   The Coast Guard said its inspection uncovered evidence that Kassian Maritime, acting through its agents and employees, made false statements and used false documents during the course of the Coast Guard’s inspection. The indictment also alleges that the shipping company failed to maintain an accurate oil record book of all disposals of oil residue and discharges overboard, in violation of federal law.
   The engineer is also charged in the indictment with obstructing the inspection by providing false information to the Coast Guard regarding the ship’s use of an illegal bypass pipe, also referred to as a “magic pipe,” that was used to transfer oil-contaminated waste overboard.
   Engine room operations on board large oceangoing vessels such as the 'North Princess' generate large amounts of waste oil. U.S. law requires that all overboard discharges of waste oil be recorded in an oil record book, a required log that is regularly inspected by the Coast Guard.