Ship operator, engineer guilty to oil dump coverup
The operator of a cargo vessel from India and its chief engineer have pleaded guilty to environmental crimes and obstruction of justice for covering up illegal dumping of oily waste at sea.
By Agencies |
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO: The operator of a cargo vessel from India and its chief engineer have pleaded guilty to environmental crimes and obstruction of justice for covering up illegal dumping of oily waste at sea, the US Department of Justice announced on Thursday.
The Mumbai-based ship operator, Accord Ship Management, will pay a fine of $1.75 million (euro1.25 million) and will be banned from US waters and ports for a probation period of three years, according to the federal statement.
In April, US Coast Guard crews in Puerto Rico discovered that a 479-foot cargo ship operated by the Indian company dumped sludge and bilge wastes into the ocean and then falsified the vessel's oil record book, according to a plea agreement.
Chief engineer Francisco Sabando pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice charges and will serve a prison term of five months, the statement said.
``We have a collective obligation to protect our environment, and we will prosecute those who flagrantly violate our environmental laws,'' said Rosa Emilia Rodriguez Velez, US Attorney for Puerto Rico.
The Mumbai-based ship operator, Accord Ship Management, will pay a fine of $1.75 million (euro1.25 million) and will be banned from US waters and ports for a probation period of three years, according to the federal statement.
In April, US Coast Guard crews in Puerto Rico discovered that a 479-foot cargo ship operated by the Indian company dumped sludge and bilge wastes into the ocean and then falsified the vessel's oil record book, according to a plea agreement.
Chief engineer Francisco Sabando pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice charges and will serve a prison term of five months, the statement said.
``We have a collective obligation to protect our environment, and we will prosecute those who flagrantly violate our environmental laws,'' said Rosa Emilia Rodriguez Velez, US Attorney for Puerto Rico.
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