A Singapore-based shipping company, Target Ship Management Pte. Ltd., has been found guilty of deliberately falsifying records to conceal pollution discharges from its cargo ship, the M/V Gaurav Prem. The vessel, which was traveling to Mobile, Alabama, was inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard in September 2011, but records showed that the crew had discharged oily waste into the sea without proper documentation.
Pleading guilty to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, Target Ship Management was sentenced to a $1 million criminal fine, as well as a $200,000 community service payment to the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation. The company was also placed on three years’ probation, during which time its ships will be subject to an environmental compliance plan supervised by outside auditors and the court.
The company’s chief engineer, Payongyut Vongvichinakul, and second engineer, Pakpoom Hanprap, also pleaded guilty to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships and are scheduled to be sentenced on July 19, 2012.
The U.S. government has been cracking down on environmental crimes, and this case represents a significant victory in the fight to protect the nation’s oceans. The U.S. Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency, and other agencies have been working together to investigate and prosecute cases of pollution and cover-ups.
According to court documents, senior Target employees discharged and caused the overboard discharge of oily bilge waste from the M/V Gaurav Prem on multiple occasions as the vessel sailed from South Korea to Mobile. The discharges were not recorded in the vessel’s oil record book as required.
The case highlights the importance of ensuring that shipping companies comply with environmental regulations and maintain accurate records. The guilty pleas demonstrate that the U.S. government will not tolerate the flagrant violation of its laws and will continue to vigorously prosecute such crimes.
Target Ship Management’s guilty plea and sentence reflect the U.S. Coast Guard’s commitment to protecting the marine environment and upholding the law. The case serves as a warning to shipping companies worldwide that those who pollute our oceans will be held accountable.
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