V.Ships Norway A.S. has pleaded guilty to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships and was ordered to pay a $2 million fine. The company admitted that oily bilge water and waste were discharged from the Motor Tanker Swift Winchester, and these discharges were not recorded in the Oil Record Book as required by law.
“Dumping oil-contaminated waste into the waters around our ports and coasts violates the law and poses an unnecessary health and environmental hazard,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The crew took pains to hide their illegal activity by knowingly keeping inaccurate records. We will not turn a blind eye to this kind of irresponsible and fraudulent activity.”
“The Gulf of America and the Texas ports are amazing places with great natural beauty. They are also vital to our economy,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs for the Eastern District of Texas. “When a foreign ship operated by a foreign company discharges polluting wastes, it threatens waters that are vital to the United States and the state of Texas. We will hold those responsible for polluting the Gulf of America accountable.”
“The criminal prosecution of this case underlines our commitment to enforcing the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ellison C. Travis for the Middle District of Louisiana. “The illegal discharge of bilge water and oily waste from vessels poses a significant threat to our waters and marine life and by holding those accountable who violate these standards, we send a clear message that we will not tolerate actions that endanger our environment. We remain dedicated to ensuring that the maritime industry operates responsibly and in compliance with environmental laws.”
“Coast Guard Marine Inspectors, Pollution Responders and Investigating Officers undergo rigorous and specialized training to detect and gather evidence of environmental crimes. This expertise alongside our federal partnerships was crucial to the successful prosecution of this violation,” said Capt. Jennifer Andrew, the Commanding Officer of Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur. “The Coast Guard maintains one of the world’s most comprehensive and thorough vessel inspection programs, and we will continue to leverage this robust capability to ensure strict compliance with domestic and international maritime laws.”
Between February 2022 and August 2022, crew members on board M/T Swift Winchester connected a hose between an incinerator waste oil tank and a sewage holding tank, which allowed oily waste to be transferred into sewage tanks before being discharged at sea without using pollution prevention equipment as required by regulations. The incident came to light when an engine crewmember reported it internally at V.Ships; subsequent investigation led V.Ships to dismiss its Chief Engineer after finding oil in a sewage tank.
In another incident in August 2022, after appointing a new Chief Engineer, crew members cleaned an Oil Water Separator filter on deck using degreaser, allowing oily residue to wash directly overboard through a scupper.
U.S. Coast Guard officials conducted an examination after receiving photographic evidence from engine room staff documenting these illegal practices as M/T Swift Winchester arrived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on August 25, 2022, then Port Arthur, Texas on September 7, 2022—both times with knowingly falsified logbooks.
The case was investigated by personnel from U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur as well as agents from U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service.
Senior Trial Attorney Kenneth E. Nelson along with Trial Attorney Lauren Steele from ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted alongside Assistant U.S Attorneys Joseph Batte (Eastern District of Texas) and Edward Warner (Middle District of Louisiana).
