Discover the Xiangming: Ratings & Maritime News

In a landmark ruling by the U.S. District Court in Seattle, Angelakos (Hellas) S.A., the operator of the 'Gallia Graeca', along with ship owner Gallia Graeca Shipping Ltd., have been fined $1.3 million for illegal dumping of oily waste into the Pacific Ocean. This verdict comes as a result of findings from June 2016, where both companies were convicted of breaching the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, alongside committing record falsification during a federal investigation, and partaking in a deceitful scheme against the United States government. U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour expressed hope that the hefty sanctions would serve as a deterrent for other companies contemplating a culture of dishonesty. U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes condemned the actions of the firms, stating, 'These companies promoted a culture of lies and lawlessness that left a trail of pollution in the Pacific Ocean.' She elaborated on the case, highlighting that corporate managers had arranged for the chief engineer to produce falsified documentation just prior to a scheduled Coast Guard inspection. Between October 16 and 27, 2015, during the 'Gallia Graeca's' voyage from China to Seattle, it was revealed that 5,000 gallons of oily bilge water were discharged illegally. Although the engineers attempted to mask the malfunctioning oil water separator during the Coast Guard's inspection, it was confirmed the device had not been serviced for an extended period. False entries in the ship's oil record book claimed that no bilge water was discharged during the transit, despite evidence to the contrary. In addition to the fines, the companies will undergo five years of probation and must establish environmental compliance plans to uphold anti-pollution regulations. A community service obligation of $200,000 has also been mandated, earmarked for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the National Parks Foundation. Furthermore, the two engineers involved in this environmental malpractice received short prison sentences before being allowed to return to Greece.

This Friday, a pivotal decision will be made regarding the financial penalties facing a prominent Greek shipping tycoon linked to the M/V Gallia Graeca, accused of discharging thousands of gallons of oil-contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean during its journey to Seattle. This incident emphasizes the age-old wisdom that often it’s not merely the crime that incurs greater consequences, but the subsequent cover-up. U.S. Coast Guard officials in Seattle uncovered evidence that the Cyprus-flagged vessel had been unlawfully releasing polluted water into the ocean while en route to Puget Sound from China. Investigations revealed that two engineers from the ship misled authorities about the environmental damage, purportedly to shield the company’s interests belonging to the shipping mogul Evangelos Angelakos. Despite the owners' claims of innocence regarding the pollution and the attempted concealment, these defenses were found to lack credibility in court. As a result, federal prosecutors are set to recommend a hefty $3 million penalty to U.S. District Court for the involved corporations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth Wilkinson and Matthew Diggs emphasized in legal documents that the evidence presented clearly indicated these actions were not mere accidents.

In a landmark decision on June 20, 2016, U.S. District Court in Seattle found the operating companies of the MV 'Gallia Graeca,' along with two of its engineers, guilty of 12 felony charges stemming from unlawful oil waste dumping at sea. The ship management company, Angelakos Hellas S.A., and the owner, Gallia Graeca Shipping LTD, were implicated alongside chief engineer Konstantinos Chrysovergis and second engineer Tryfon Angelou. The court established that they systematically breached the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, falsified records during a federal inquiry, and devised a scheme to defraud the United States government. Following eight days of intense jury trial deliberations, the jury took three days to reach a verdict. Sentencing, presided over by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour, is scheduled for September 16, 2016. Evidence during the trial revealed that the 'Gallia Graeca' was en route from China to Seattle in October 2015 when the onboard oil-water separator became inoperable. On three occasions—October 16, 26, and 27, 2015—the crew bypassed critical safeguards designed to prevent the discharge of oily waste and released approximately 5,000 gallons of contaminated bilge water into the ocean. In a deliberate attempt to mislead U.S. Coast Guard inspectors, the engineers provided misleading statements during onboard inspections and falsified entries in the ship's oil record book. When prompted to demonstrate the functionality of the oil-water separator, the engineers manipulated the equipment to simulate operational integrity, even as inspections revealed clogged filters with oil and residue in the overboard discharge piping. Furthermore, records indicated that the oil-water separator had not undergone maintenance for months before the crucial journey. Despite the ship's official oil record book asserting no discharges had occurred en route to Seattle, investigations uncovered evidence of repeated oily water discharges. Prosecutors labeled the case a 'voyage of deception and pollution,' emphasizing that the engineers' actions aimed to evade Coast Guard scrutiny and ensure the 'Gallia Graeca' maintained its schedule for transporting $25 million worth of goods from Seattle. The repercussions for the convicted parties are severe; falsifying records in a federal investigation could lead to a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, while violations of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships could incur up to six years. Individual defendants face fines of up to $250,000, while corporate fines could reach $500,000 for each count. This case, prosecuting by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth Wilkinson and Matthew Diggs, alongside Special Assistant Attorney Stephen Bor of the U.S. Coast Guard, highlights the ongoing commitment of U.S. authorities in addressing environmental crimes at sea. The investigation is jointly handled by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency's Criminal Investigation Division.