Operator and Owner of Oil Tanker Sentenced for Concealment of Pollution from Vessel
Two Greek shipping companies pleaded guilty and were sentenced for violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), falsifying records and obstruction of justice. The charges arose out of two US port calls in which crew members of the Motor Tanker Kriti Ruby presented false records to the USCG to conceal illegal transfers and discharges of oily bilge water from the vessel near the petroleum terminal in Sewaren, NJ.
Motor Tanker Kriti Ruby in an undated photo.
Avin International Ltd. and Kriti Ruby Special Maritime Enterprises were ordered to pay a criminal fine of $3,375,000 and a $1,125,000 community service payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Both companies were also sentenced to serve five-year terms of probation during which they will be subject to environmental compliance plans with a monitorship to ensure future compliance.
Konstantinos Atsalis was sentenced to time served and a $5,000 fine after previously pleading guilty to charges related to the discharge of oily waste into the sea from the Kriti Ruby. Sonny Bosito was sentenced to time served for concealing pollution by falsifying records.
The USCG’s Investigative Service (CGIS) investigated the case. Individuals can report suspicious activity onboard vessels to CGIS TIPS at www.p3tips.com/878.
Source:
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/operator-and-owner-oil-tanker-plead-guilty-and-are-sentenced-concealment-pollution-vessel