JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SENTENCES NORWEGIAN SHIP CAPTAIN FOR OIL SPILL

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SENTENCES NORWEGIAN SHIP CAPTAIN FOR OIL SPILL    The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Southern District of Texas convicted Norwegian ship captain Jan Svendsen of violating the Clean Water Act and sentenced him to pay a $5,000 fine.
   Svendsen allegedly failed to properly supervise his crew on the oil tanker “Stolt Surf” during a November voyage from Houston to New Orleans. During the voyage, a crewman mistakenly pumped a tank into the Gulf containing 940 barrels of oil.
   Prior to the spillage, Coast Guard officials said Stolt Nielsen, the vessel’s owner, had “an exemplary environmental record.” Stolt Nielsen agreed to make a voluntary contribution of $60,000 to the Coastal Conversation Association. “These monies will be used to improve the marine environment in the Houston area,” the Justice Department said.