Read Authentic Ratings for the Selene-Leader

In a significant enforcement action against marine pollution, Noly Torato Vidad, the former chief engineer of the cargo vessel 'Selene Leader', has been sentenced to eight months in prison. This decision comes as a result of Vidad's involvement in illegally dumping oily waste into the ocean and subsequently attempting to conceal these actions. The sentencing, which also includes a year of supervised release, follows Vidad's guilty plea in November 2014 to multiple charges related to his actions. Vidad was arrested in early 2014, facing serious allegations of overseeing crew members who dumped waste overboard without properly treating it through an oil water separator as mandated by marine safety regulations. Court documents reveal that Vidad, together with the ship's first engineer, urged crew members to mislead Coast Guard officials and falsified important oil record books. The ship, operated by Japan-based Hachiuma Steamship Co Ltd, has already incurred a hefty penalty of $1.8 million due to these violations. Of this total, $450,000 has been directed to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, while an additional $250,000 was awarded to a crew member who courageously reported the malpractice. This case highlights the ongoing commitment to uphold environmental laws within the maritime industry and ensures that those who violate these regulations face serious consequences.

In a significant ruling on January 30, 2015, Hachiuma Steamship Co. faced a hefty penalty of $1.8 million for illegally discharging oil residue and bilge water into the sea. The decision, made in federal court in Baltimore, is part of a plea deal due to their violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships. This serious offense prompted U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake to impose the fine, underscoring the importance of maritime environmental protections. A whistle-blower from the crew of the M/V Selene Leader will receive $250,000 of the total fine, while an additional $450,000 will be allocated to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to support conservation efforts benefiting the Chesapeake Bay. This case highlights the ongoing challenges of marine pollution and the critical role of whistle-blowers in maintaining industry accountability.

In a significant environmental case, the chief engineer of the MV Selene Leader, a car carrier operated by Hachiuma Steamship Co LTD, has pleaded guilty to serious charges in federal court located in Baltimore, Maryland. Noly Torato Vidad, who held the chief engineer position on the Panama-flagged vessel from August 2013 through late January 2014, faces accountability for obstruction of justice and violations under the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships. According to the plea agreement, Vidad's crew utilized a fraudulent apparatus, referred to as a 'magic pipe'—a rubber hose in this instance—to illegally circumvent the oil water separator systems and discharged harmful oily waste directly into the ocean. Following the Coast Guard's inspection of the MV Selene Leader on January 31, 2014, Vidad attempted to sabotage their investigation. His actions included falsifying the oil record book, destroying pertinent documents, and misleading Coast Guard officials by instructing his crew to provide false information. Vidad's sentencing is set for February 20, 2015. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney P. Michael Cunningham from the District of Maryland and Senior Trial Attorney David P. Kehoe from the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section.