Two shipping corporations, Columbia Shipmanagement (Deutschland) GmbH (CSM-D) and Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd. (CSM-CY), have pleaded guilty to felony obstruction of justice charges and violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships. The companies, based in Germany and Cyprus, respectively, will pay $10.4 million in penalties and fines for their crimes.
The case against the shipping firms stems from the deliberate concealment of vessel pollution from four ships that visited U.S. ports in New Jersey, Delaware, and Northern California. The companies admitted to intentionally bypassing required pollution prevention equipment and falsifying the oil record book, a required log regularly inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard.
The plea agreement, announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in New Jersey and Delaware, and the U.S. Coast Guard, requires the companies to pay a $10.4 million penalty and be placed on probation for four years. During probation, the companies will be subject to the terms of an environmental compliance program that requires outside audits by an independent company and oversight by a court-appointed monitor.
The proposed $10.4 million penalty includes $2.6 million in organizational community service payments to assist the coastal maritime environment in New Jersey and Delaware damaged by Hurricane Sandy. The plea agreement directs the funds to environmental projects that will be selected by the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation to help conserve, preserve, and restore the coastal environment of New Jersey and Delaware hit by Hurricane Sandy.
Defendant: Columbia Shipmanagement (Deutschland) GmbH (CSM-D) and Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd. (CSM-CY)
Criminal Charges: Felony obstruction of justice and violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships
City and State: Newark, New Jersey
Exact Date: June 24, 2013 (sentencing)
Sentence: $10.4 million penalty and four years of probation
Dollar Amounts: $10.4 million (penalty), $2.6 million (organizational community service payments)
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Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Environmental Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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