Two Greek shipping companies were sentenced to pay $4 million in fines following illegal discharges by their vessels of oil into the waters of two Texas ports, reports Greek Reporter USA.
What are the charges?
The two Greek shipping companies, Avin International LTD and Nicos IV Special Maritime Enterprises, were sentenced on charges stemming from several discharges of oil into the waters of Texas ports.
Avin International was the operator and Nicos I.V. Special Maritime Enterprises was the owner of the Nicos I.V., which is a Greek-flagged vessel.
Who pleaded guilty?
The Master of the Nicos I.V., Rafail-Thomas Tsoumakos, and the vessel’s Chief Officer, Alexios Thomopoulos, also pleaded guilty to making material false statements to members of the United States Coast Guard during the investigation into the discharges
Both companies pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of an agency proceeding, one count of failure to report discharge of oil under the Clean Water Act, and three counts of negligent discharge of oil under the Clean Water Act on Nov. 26, 2018.
What is the plea agreement?
Under the plea agreement, the companies will pay a $4 million criminal fine and serve a four-year term of probation, during which vessels operated by the companies will be required to implement an environmental compliance plan, including inspections by an independent auditor.
Repeated scenario
Few weeks back a Greek Ship Management Company, Corporate Vessel Owner, and Chief Engineer of M/V Nederland Reefer Indicted for Falsification of Pollution Records, Obstruction of Justice, and Witness Tampering.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney David P. Kehoe of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant United States Attorney Edmund Falgowski of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.
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Source: usa.greekreporter
