The Green-Sky: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

In a significant verdict delivered in Charleston, South Carolina, a federal jury has found two chief engineers of the tanker 'Green Sky' guilty of engaging in illegal practices involving the discharge of oily bilge water. The verdict pertains specifically to their actions of falsifying documentation related to these discharges, commonly linked to 'magic pipe incidents', as well as obstructing justice. Herbert Julian, who held the position of Chief Engineer from August 3 to September 4, 2015, was convicted on two felony counts under the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and also faced charges for obstruction of justice. His counterpart, Panagiotis Koutoukakis, serving as Chief Engineer from February 1 to August 3, 2015, was similarly convicted of two felony counts: one mandating compliance with APPS and another for the falsification of records. Court documents unsealed after the verdicts disclosed that Aegean Shipping Management, the Greek company responsible for operating the 'Green Sky', had previously entered a guilty plea related to both violations of the APPS and obstruction charges. The 'Green Sky', which embarked on its maiden voyage in July 2014, experienced unique internal leaks that resulted in an abnormal accumulation of oily waste—not typical for a vessel of its age and design. The improper handling of oily bilge waste poses a significant risk, potentially compromising equipment and threatening maritime safety, as such waste must not be discharged directly into ocean waters. The necessity for an oily water separator is mandated by law to ensure proper handling. Evidence presented throughout the trial unveiled that the 'Green Sky' had consistently been discharging contaminated water directly into the sea, without the necessary disclosures mandated by law. Analysis of the ship's oil record book revealed extensive falsifications, covering illegal discharges of oily waste from February to August 2015. These deceptive practices included omitting records of bypass operations, misleading entries indicating use of the oily water separator, and false records concerning the bilge holding tank's levels—all serving to obscure illegal activities. For a complete overview of these events, interested parties can access the detailed report at: http://www.handyshippingguide.com/shipping-news/Two%20More%20Convictions%20for%20Flag%20of%20Convenience%20Merchant%20Ship%20Officers%20on%20Pollution%20Charges_7803.

A Greek national, Panagiotis Koutoukakis, remains stranded in South Carolina, facing serious allegations linked to pollution law violations as the chief engineer of the chemical tanker Green Sky. After six months of detainment, Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant denied his request to amend bond conditions, which would have allowed him to return to Greece. Koutoukakis is embroiled in a legal battle, confronting three felony charges that could result in a hefty 25-year prison sentence for allegedly conspiring to falsify records and conceal illegal discharges during the vessel's operations. Authorities uncovered the incriminating documents last year when the Green Sky was docked at the Port of Charleston. Currently released on an unsecured bond of $25,000, Koutoukakis is prohibited from leaving South Carolina while he waits for trial. Alongside Koutoukakis, four other co-defendants faced arraignment in Charleston federal court on similar charges, all pleading not guilty with no set trial date. Initially detained on January 14 as a material witness, federal authorities covered Koutoukakis's expenses until formal charges were filed last month. In court documents, he expressed concerns over being rendered homeless and placing his family in financial jeopardy due to restrictions on his return to Greece. Recently, support has come from the Charleston Port & Seafarers Society, a charitable organization assisting him with living costs and medical needs.

In a significant legal development, a federal grand jury in Charleston indicted a shipping company based in Liberia, alongside a corporate vessel owner and three engineering officers, as part of a prolonged investigation into environmental conspiracies that traces back to August 2022. The charges stem from an incident involving the Liberian-flagged chemical tanker T/V Green Sky, which docked at the Port of North Charleston, South Carolina, in August 2015. During this time, crew members reportedly informed the U.S. Coast Guard that they had been directed to bypass the ship's oil-water separator multiple times. The oil-water separator is a crucial device intended to separate oil and suspended solids from wastewater, significantly mitigating the risk of toxic chemical compounds being released into the environment during potential oil spills. Court documents reveal that Aegean Shipping Management of Liberia, responsible for the ship's operations, along with several engineering officers, breached international maritime laws by improperly discharging oil and bilge water from the T/V Green Sky. As signatories to the MARPOL treaty, vessels flying the flags of both the United States and Liberia are obligated to accurately document all discharges in their ship's oil record book. In light of the alleged violations, the shipping company and the engineering officers now face serious charges, including obstruction, conspiracy, and the fabrication of records through the submission of false information in their oil record documentation.