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Irika Shipping S.A. Pays $4 Million Penalty for Concealing Deliberate Pollution
A Panamanian-registered ship management corporation has pleaded guilty to felony obstruction of justice charges and violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships related to concealing deliberate vessel pollution from the M/V Iorana, a Greek flagged cargo ship that made port calls in Baltimore, Tacoma, Wash., and New Orleans.
According to the multi-district plea agreement arising out of charges brought in the District of Maryland, Western District of Washington, and Eastern District of Louisiana, Irika Shipping S.A. has agreed to pay a $4 million total penalty, be placed on probation for a maximum period of five years, and be subject to the terms of an Enhanced Environmental Compliance Program.
The proposed $4 million penalty includes a $3 million criminal fine and $1 million in organizational community service payments that will fund various marine environmental projects. In Maryland, $750,000 will go to the congressionally established National Fish & Wildlife Foundation and be used for Chesapeake Bay projects. In Washington, $125,000 will go to environmental projects in and around the waters of Puget Sound and the Straits of Juan De Fuca. In Louisiana, $125,000 will go toward funding habitat conservation, protection, restoration, and management projects to benefit fish and wildlife resources and habitats.
The investigation into the M/V Iorana was launched in January 2010 after a crew member passed a note to the Customs and Border Protection inspector upon the ship’s arrival in Baltimore alleging that the ship’s chief engineer had directed the dumping of waste oil overboard through a bypass hose that circumvented pollution prevention equipment required by law.
Irika Shipping S.A. pleaded guilty on July 8, 2010, before Maryland U.S. District Court Judge Frederick J. Motz.
The defendant, Irika Shipping S.A., was charged with felony obstruction of justice and violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships.
Irika Shipping S.A. must also be audited by an independent firm and supervised by a court-appointed monitor under the terms of the proposed plea agreement.
Irika Shipping S.A. is a Panamanian-registered ship management corporation registered and doing business in Greece.
Deliberate pollution from ships, intentional falsification of records to cover up pollution, and obstruction of justice are serious crimes that will be vigorously prosecuted, said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General, Environment & Natural Resources, U.S. Department of Justice.
Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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