New Orleans, LA – Wilfredo Sombra, the former chief engineer aboard the bulk carrier M/V Golden Sakura, was sentenced to three years of probation and a $2,000 federal fine in May 2012 for his role in a deliberate scheme to illegally discharge oily waste into the ocean and falsify records to conceal the pollution. The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Coast Guard, exposed a systemic disregard for environmental regulations by the ship’s operating company, Philsynergy.
According to court documents, the M/V Golden Sakura, a 39,737 gross ton vessel, routinely dumped oily wastewater directly into the ocean during a voyage that began in China on June 11, 2011, and concluded at the Port of New Orleans on August 14, 2011, with stops in Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Panama. Instead of utilizing the ship’s Oil Water Separator – a device designed to filter oil from wastewater before discharge – engineering crews bypassed the system, releasing untreated waste containing more than 15 parts per million (ppm) of oil.
The deception extended to the ship’s Oil Record Book, a legally required log detailing all oil disposals. Sombra admitted to the Coast Guard that he relied on a rudimentary visual inspection – shining a flashlight on the discharge to check for a sheen – to determine whether the Oil Water Separator was necessary. Only if a visible sheen was detected would the crew be instructed to engage the separator. This practice resulted in consistently false entries in the Oil Record Book, presented to U.S. Coast Guard inspectors during routine examinations.
On January 19, 2012, Sombra was charged with one count of making false statements, a violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001(a). Philsynergy, the vessel’s operating company, faced a single count of violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), 33 U.S.C. 1908(a). Philsynergy pled guilty on February 9, 2012, and Sombra followed suit on March 12, 2012. The corporation received a sentence of 36 months probation and a hefty $750,000 federal fine on May 16, 2012, while Sombra’s sentencing occurred on June 27, 2012.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Wilfredo Sombra
- Vessel: M/V Golden Sakura
- Operating Company: Philsynergy
- Route: China to New Orleans (via Indonesia, Hong Kong, Panama)
- Violation: Illegal discharge of oily waste and falsification of Oil Record Book
- Laws Violated: 18 U.S.C. 1001(a), 33 U.S.C. 1908(a)
- Penalties: Sombra – 36 months probation, $2,000 fine; Philsynergy – 36 months probation, $750,000 fine
This case underscores the EPA’s commitment to prosecuting maritime pollution crimes and holding both individuals and companies accountable for environmental violations. The deliberate falsification of records, coupled with the direct discharge of pollutants, demonstrates a blatant disregard for the marine environment and applicable U.S. laws. The EPA continues to investigate similar cases to deter future illegal activity and protect our oceans.
GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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