Two units of the German W. Bockstiegel Reederei GmbH company have pled guilty in US federal court to environmental crimes, reported gCaptain.
The criminal offences committed and heard by the Southern District of California’s court are related to the use of a ‘Magic Pipe’, a deceptive tool used for the dumping of oil discharge from ships; there were also no oil record books being kept.
The company admitted guilt, stating that they accept no oil discharge records were kept since June, 2014; fines of US$750,000, including a $250,000 in community service payments are expected.
This conviction comes after two Greek shipping companies, Gallia Graeca LTD and Angelakos (Hellas) SA, were charged by a jury in federal court for deliberately pumping oil-polluted water into the sea and then falsifying records to cover it up to pass inspections.
Shipping pollutants have been at the forefront of industry news in recent weeks, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has especially been bidding to reduce the industry’s emissions and pollutants, their proposed legislation on sulphur emissions has been considered contentious, which Bimco warns could result in a marine fuel shortage.
