Efploia Shipping Company, Maritime Pollution, Maryland 2012

Baltimore, MD – Efploia Shipping Company, a Marshall Islands-based firm with operational headquarters in Greece, has been sentenced for intentionally polluting the ocean with oil-contaminated waste, a crime discovered during the maiden voyage of one of its managed vessels. The case, brought to light by federal investigators, reveals a deliberate scheme to bypass environmental regulations and illegally discharge pollutants into the sea.

According to court documents, the M/V Aquarosa, a 33,005 gross ton cargo ship built in China and registered in Malta, began its first voyage in June 2010 already engaged in unlawful activity. Senior engineers aboard the vessel allegedly implemented two primary methods for concealing the illegal dumping of oily bilge water. The first involved the removal of blocking mechanisms within critical valves, allowing the direct discharge of waste overboard. More disturbingly, engineers constructed a clandestine “magic pipe” – a makeshift hose and flange system welded directly onto the ship – designed to completely circumvent the vessel’s mandated pollution prevention equipment.

The scheme was uncovered through investigation following routine port state control examinations and tip-offs. Federal prosecutors presented evidence demonstrating a systematic effort to falsify records and mislead authorities regarding waste handling practices. Aquarosa Shipping, the vessel’s owner based in Denmark, was also implicated in the cover-up and held accountable for the actions of its technical managers.

On December 9, 2011, both Efploia Shipping and Aquarosa Shipping were formally charged with multiple violations of federal law, including the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) – specifically 33 U.S.C. 1907 and 1908 – as well as making false statements in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001 and obstruction of justice under 18 U.S.C. 1505. The charges also encompassed violations of 33 U.S.C. 1319, pertaining to false statements to a federal investigator.

On January 25, 2012, both companies received sentencing. Each defendant was ordered to pay $275,000 in organizational community service payments, totaling $550,000 directed to the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation. These funds are specifically earmarked for crucial restoration projects within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, an area particularly vulnerable to maritime pollution. In addition to the financial penalties, both Efploia Shipping and Aquarosa Shipping were placed on probation for a period of 36 months.

This case underscores the ongoing commitment of federal authorities to aggressively prosecute maritime pollution offenses and hold corporations accountable for environmental crimes. The use of a “magic pipe” – a recurring tactic in these types of cases – highlights the lengths to which some ship operators will go to cut corners and avoid compliance with environmental regulations. The penalties levied against Efploia and Aquarosa serve as a warning to other shipping companies operating in U.S. waters.

Table of Contents

Key Facts

Defendant: Efploia Shipping Company & Aquarosa Shipping
Crime: Maritime Pollution, False Statements, Obstruction of Justice
Location: Maryland (Chesapeake Bay impact)
Year: 2012
Vessel: M/V Aquarosa
Illegal Methods: Removal of valve blocking mechanisms, “magic pipe” construction
Penalties: $550,000 in community service payments to the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, 36 months probation for each company.
Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1907, 33 U.S.C. 1908, 33 U.S.C. 1319, 18 U.S.C. 1001, 18 U.S.C. 1505

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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