New Zealand Fishing Firm Guilty of Pollution, Obstruction
A federal jury in Washington, D.C. has returned guilty verdicts against Sanford Ltd., a New Zealand fishing company, on six counts of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS). The company, which operates the fishing vessel San Nikunau, was convicted of polluting the waters off American Samoa with oily waste and then trying to cover up their acts.
Sanford Ltd. faces a maximum fine of up to $500,000 on each count, for a total potential penalty of $3.0 million. The company was paid over $24 million for tuna deliveries over the past five years.
Sanford’s primary chief engineer, James Pogue, 52, faces up to 20 years for obstruction of justice and six years for knowingly failing to maintain an accurate oil record book.
According to the government’s evidence, in July 2011, the U.S. Coast Guard conducted a Port State Control examination on the San Nikunau, when the vessel entered port in Pago Pago, American Samoa. The examination revealed that the vessel had been making false entries and omissions in its oil record book.
Pogue, of Idaho, served as the chief engineer on the vessel between 2001 and 2010. He was convicted of failing to maintain an oil record book for the vessel that accurately accounted for how the vessel was managing its bilge waste. In addition, Pogue was convicted of obstruction of justice for falsely stating in the oil record book that required pollution prevention equipment had been used when it had not.
Rolando Ong Vano, 51, of the Philippines, another chief engineer who worked on the vessel, pleaded guilty to charges in the case. He is to be sentenced Sept. 7, 2012.
“These verdicts hold a company and one of its chief engineers accountable for polluting the waters off American Samoa with oily waste, and then trying to cover up their acts,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. “The prosecution demonstrates our commitment to enforcing environmental laws and protecting our precious natural resources.”
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: Environmental Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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