Honolulu, HI – A South Korean shipping company has been hit with substantial fines and a community service payment after admitting to illegally dumping oil-contaminated waste into the ocean near Hawaii. Doorae Shipping Co., LTD. pled guilty in federal court to violating maritime pollution laws and falsifying records to conceal the illegal discharges.
According to court documents, the B. Sky, an oil tanker operated by Doorae, discharged over 500 gallons of oily bilge water directly into the Pacific Ocean instead of properly processing it through the vessel’s oil water separator. This practice is a direct violation of both U.S. and international regulations designed to protect marine environments. To cover up the illegal dumping, the ship’s Chief Engineer, Jeung Mun, maintained a falsified oil record book—the official log inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard—making it appear as though the waste was handled correctly.
Deliberate Deception & Environmental Impact
Federal prosecutors argued that Doorae Shipping Co.’s actions were a deliberate attempt to circumvent environmental regulations and cut costs, prioritizing profit over the health of Hawaii’s fragile marine ecosystems. The illegal discharge poses a significant threat to coral reefs, fish populations, and other marine life, potentially causing long-term damage to the Hawaiian Islands’ unique biodiversity.
Legal Ramifications & Penalties
On April 5, 2016, U.S. District Court Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi sentenced Doorae Shipping Co. to pay a $750,000 fine and a $200,000 community service payment. The community service funds will be donated to the National Fish and Wildlife Service Foundation to support coral reef preservation and enhancement projects in Hawaii. The company will also be subject to two years of probation. In a separate plea, Chief Engineer Jeung Mun admitted to maintaining the faulty oil record book and received a 30-day jail sentence, 12 months of probation, and a $1,500 fine. The company and Mun were found in violation of Title 18 U.S. Criminal Code, 33 U.S.C. 1908(a), and 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(3), specifically relating to the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships and making false statements to federal authorities.
Interagency Cooperation
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Honolulu, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Florence T. Nakakuni, U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii, emphasized the importance of holding maritime companies accountable for environmental violations. Captain Shannon Gilreath of the Coast Guard and Jay M. Green, Special Agent in Charge of the EPA’s criminal enforcement program, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the need to protect Hawaii’s marine environment from illegal pollution.
GrimyTimes Investigation Continues
GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and investigate potential systemic issues within the maritime industry that contribute to illegal pollution practices. The incident raises questions about the effectiveness of current oversight mechanisms and the need for stricter enforcement of environmental regulations to safeguard our oceans.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Doorae Shipping Co., LTD.
- Crime: Illegal discharge of oil-contaminated bilge water and falsification of records.
- Location: Hawaii
- Year: 2016
- Fine: $750,000
- Community Service Payment: $200,000 (to National Fish and Wildlife Service Foundation)
- Chief Engineer (Jeung Mun): 30 days incarceration, 12 months probation, $1,500 fine.
- Laws Violated: Title 18 U.S. Criminal Code, 33 U.S.C. 1908(a), 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(3)
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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