O7-Gaja Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

Denys Korotkiy, the chief engineer of the vessel previously known as 'Donald' and currently operating under the name 'O7 Gaja,' could face prison time following a jury conviction in a significant pollution case in the United States. According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, Korotkiy was found guilty by a federal jury on multiple counts including conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstructing justice, and failing to keep a proper oil record book for the ship. This verdict came at the conclusion of a five-day jury trial held in San Diego. The vessel's former operating company, Germany-based Interunity Management, admitted guilt earlier by acknowledging its role in maintaining inaccurate and incomplete records concerning the discharge of oily bilge water. The jury's decision revealed that oily bilge water had been unlawfully discharged directly into the ocean from the 'Donald' using the ship's sewage holding tank, bypassing necessary pollution prevention equipment. Crucially, these illegal discharges were not recorded as mandated, highlighting serious discrepancies in compliance with maritime regulations. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that Korotkiy fabricated entries in the oil record book, falsely asserting transfers of oily bilge were made from the engine room bilge wells to the bilge holding tank—transfers that had never occurred. Moreover, Korotkiy was implicated in efforts to conspire with others to impede a United States Coast Guard inspection, which was investigating the mishandling of oily bilge water on the vessel. Following the trial's conclusion, the court placed Korotkiy in custody pending sentencing, which is set for September 1, 2023. Additionally, Interunity Management has entered a guilty plea concerning inaccuracies in maintaining the ship's oil record book. As per the plea agreement, the company faces a monetary penalty of $1.25 million and will undergo a four-year probation period. During this probation, any vessels operated by Interunity that dock at US ports will be obligated to establish and follow a rigorous environmental compliance plan.