V Ships Norway admitted concealing illegal discharges of oily waste from the tanker Swift Winchester
V Ships Norway AS (V Ships) has pleaded guilty to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships and was sentenced to pay a criminal fine of US$2M.
According to the US Department of Justice (DoJ), V Ships admitted oily bilge water and oily waste were discharged in 2022 from 2009-built, 46,100-dwt chemical and product tanker Swift Winchester and the discharges were omitted from the vessel’s Oil Record Book.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division said dumping oil-contaminated waste into the waters around ports and coasts violates the law and poses a health and environmental hazard.
He added the crew attempted to conceal their activity by knowingly keeping inaccurate records and the Department would not ignore such conduct.
Acting US Attorney Jay Combs for the Eastern District of Texas said the Texas ports were both vital to the economy and places of natural beauty. He stated that when a foreign ship operated by a foreign company discharged polluting wastes, it threatened waters essential to the United States and Texas, and those responsible would be held accountable.
Acting US Attorney Ellison Travis for the Middle District of Louisiana said the case underlined the Department’s commitment to enforcing the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships.
He said the illegal discharge of bilge water and oily waste posed a threat to waters and marine life, and by holding violators accountable, the Department was sending a clear message that such actions would not be tolerated.
Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur commanding officer Captain Jennifer Andrew said Coast Guard marine inspectors, pollution responders and investigating officers undergo rigorous training to detect and gather evidence of environmental crimes.
She added this expertise, together with federal partnerships, was crucial to the prosecution andnoted the Coast Guard operates one of the world’s most comprehensive vessel inspection programmes and would continue to use this capability to ensure compliance with maritime law.
Between February and August 2022, a hose was connected between the incinerator waste oil tank and the sewage holding tank on Swift Winchester. This allowed oily waste to transfer into the sewage holding tank and then be discharged directly to sea, bypassing required pollution prevention equipment.
A low-ranking crew member reported the practice to a Superintendent at V Ships, who investigated and found oil in the sewage tank. The chief engineer was dismissed.
In August 2022, the new chief engineer ordered the oil water separator filter to be cleaned on deck. The oily residue was hosed overboard through a scupper.
When the vessel later entered Baton Rouge and Port Arthur with a falsified Oil Record Book, an engineroom crew member disclosed the discharges to Coast Guard inspectors and provided photographic and video evidence.
The US Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur and the US Coast Guard Investigative Service conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by the Department of Justice’s Environmental Crimes Section, the Eastern District of Texas and the Middle District of Louisiana.
