Greek Oil Tanker Operator Fined $2.25 Million by US Court Over Ocean Pollution

In this case, Zeus Lines Management S.A., the owner of a Greek oil tanker named Gallissas, has been directed by a Rhode Island court to pay a substantial penalty of $2.25 million.

This penalty is the result of the company’s actions, which include discharging oil-contaminated bilge water into the ocean and neglecting to report dangerous conditions during a voyage to the United States. The specific incident occurred when the Gallissas were transporting a load of diesel cargo from Rotterdam, Netherlands, to Rhode Island in February 2022. During this voyage, approximately 10,000 gallons of oily bilge water were released into the ocean.

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Engineer’s Admission: Intentional Discharge and Documentation Violations

 

The chief engineer of the tanker, Roberto Cayabyab Penaflor, openly acknowledged that he intentionally discharged untreated oily bilge water, which had not undergone the necessary pollution prevention procedures. Moreover, these discharges were not properly documented as mandated by legal requirements.

Furthermore, the captain of the Gallissas, Master Jose Ervin Mahinge Porquez, violated safety regulations by failing to report a malfunctioning system responsible for maintaining safe oxygen levels within the cargo tanks. To exacerbate the situation, the captain attempted to deceive the Coast Guard by providing a falsified logbook that falsely depicted appropriate oxygen levels. This fraudulent logbook was presented during an inspection by the Coast Guard.

As a consequence of these actions, the court ruled that Zeus Lines Management S.A. must pay fines totaling $1.68 million and an additional $562,500 for community service initiatives. The community service payment will be channeled to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, where it will fund projects aimed at benefiting the marine and coastal natural resources of Rhode Island.

The legal proceedings also led to the imposition of probation sentences on both the captain and the chief engineer of the Gallissas, indicating their culpability in the violations.

Ultimately, this case highlights the importance of adhering to environmental and safety regulations in the maritime industry, emphasizing the need for responsible practices to preserve marine and coastal ecosystems.

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Source: The Epoch Times