New Trade Ship Management S.A. and Dennis Plasabas, Oily Bilge Water Discharge, California 2022

San Diego, California – In a shocking case of environmental degradation, New Trade Ship Management S.A., a vessel operating company, and its Chief Engineer, Dennis Plasabas, pleaded guilty in federal court to maintaining false and incomplete records relating to the discharge of oily bilge water from the bulk carrier vessel Longshore.

According to the charges, on two separate occasions between October and December 2021, Chief Engineer Plasabas ordered lower-ranking crew members to use a portable pneumatic pump and hose to bypass pollution prevention equipment by transferring oily bilge water from the vessel’s Bilge Holding Tank to the vessel’s Sewage Tank, from where it was discharged directly into the ocean. The defendants admitted that these illegal discharges were not recorded in the vessel’s Oil Record Book as required by law.

Plasabas then caused the ship’s Master to fail to record these improper transfers and overboard discharges in the vessel’s Oil Record Book. Additionally, to create a false and misleading electronic record as if the pollution prevention equipment had been properly used, Plasabas directed lower-ranking crew members to pump clean sea water into the vessel’s Bilge Holding Tank in the same quantity as the amount of oily bilge water that he had ordered transferred to the Sewage Tank.

The defendants admitted to causing approximately 9,600 gallons of clean sea water to be run through the pollution prevention equipment in an attempt to make it appear that the equipment was being properly used when in fact it was not.

“We are committed to protecting our environment from people who cause immeasurable harm with short cuts,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “This was a very calculated plan to violate the rules, and today the offenders are being held to account.”

New Trade and Plasabas each pleaded guilty to a felony violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, for failing to accurately maintain the Longshore’s Oil Record Book. Under the terms of the plea agreement and subject to court approval, New Trade will pay a total fine of $1,100,000 and serve a four-year term of probation, during which any vessels operated by the company and calling on United States’ ports will be required to implement a robust Environmental Compliance Plan.

Sentencing for the defendants is currently set for November 18, 2022.

Mandatory Facts: Defendant: New Trade Ship Management S.A., Dennis Plasabas. Criminal Charges: Felony violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships. City and State: San Diego, California. Exact Date: August 9, 2022. Sentence or Outcome: New Trade will pay a total fine of $1,100,000 and serve a four-year term of probation. Dollar Amounts: $1,100,000.

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