Shipping firm fined $2m for dumping oil into ocean off California

Singaporean shipping company Zeaborn Ship Management has been fined US$2m, after it admitted dumping thousands of gallons of oily bilge water into the ocean off California.

Zeaborn pleaded guilty to maintaining false and incomplete records relating to the discharge of oily bilge water and garbage on board the vessel Star Maia. The company’s chief engineer, Constancio Estuye, and Captain Alexander Parreno also pleaded guilty for their roles in the crimes.

On Tuesday (22 August 2023), US officials announced the firm will pay $2m in penalties. Federal prosecutors confirmed the discharged oily bilge was a mix of dirty water, lubricants, grease, cleaning fluids and other contaminants from the operation and cleaning of machinery on the vessel.

Court documents reveal that Zeaborn and Estuye admitted that – at least four times between June and October 2022 – they dumped over 7,500 gallons of oily bilge water from the Star Maia into the ocean without first processing the oily bilge water through required pollution prevention equipment. They also admitted that these illegal discharges were falsely recorded in the oil record book as having been made using the vessel’s pollution prevention equipment when the equipment had not been used.

In addition to the illegal discharges of oily bilge water, Zeaborn and Parreno admitted that on at least three or four occasions between June and August 2022, they had burned garbage – including paper, plastics and oily rags – in barrels on the Star Maia’s deck. The barrels were then thrown into the ocean. This garbage burning and barrel disposal was not recorded in the vessel’s garbage record book, as required by law.

“Illegally dumping oily waste and garbage at sea poses a serious threat to the health and viability of the marine environment,” says assistant attorney general Todd Kim of the US Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This prosecution demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that those who violate environmental laws are held accountable for their criminal conduct.”

“Unlawful oil discharges can cause significant harm to the marine environment,” adds acting U.S. attorney Andrew Haden for the Southern District of California. “We will continue to safeguard our oceans by vigorous enforcement of environmental laws. Today’s case is a reflection of that commitment.”

Zeaborn pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in San Diego to two felony violations of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS). The plea agreement, subject to acceptance by the court, includes a $1.5 million fine and a $500,000 community service payment. The community service payment will go to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to fund projects to benefit marine and coastal natural resources located in or around the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve in Southern California. Zeaborn will also serve a four-year term of probation, during which any vessels operated by the company and calling on U.S. ports will be required to implement a robust environmental compliance plan.

“This prosecution highlights the Justice Department and the U.S. Coast Guard’s continued dedication in safeguarding our maritime environment against those that seek to deliberately harm our natural resources,” says sector commander Captain James W. Spitler of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Sector San Diego.

He adds: “Illegal dumping of oil, falsification of oil record books and flagrant disregard for air emission requirements are egregious violations. These guilty pleas should serve as a reminder that the Coast Guard and our partners at the Justice Department will work tirelessly to hold accountable those that seek to deliberately harm the maritime environment.”

Estuye and Parreno each pleaded guilty to one felony violation of the APPS for failing to accurately maintain the oil and garbage record books for the Star Maia. Sentencing for defendants Zeaborn, Estuve and Parreno is set for 1 December 2023.