Two Greek shipping companies have admitted guilt in a case involving the concealment of pollution from an oil tanker and obstruction of justice. Avin International Ltd. and Kriti Ruby Special Maritime Enterprises were charged after crew members of the Motor Tanker Kriti Ruby provided false records to the U.S. Coast Guard during port calls in the United States. These actions were intended to hide illegal transfers and discharges of oily bilge water.
The companies pleaded guilty to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) during visits to Jacksonville, Florida, and Sewaren Terminal in Newark in 2022. They also admitted to falsifying records and obstructing justice related to these incidents.
U.S. District Judge Esther Salas sentenced both companies to pay a $3,375,000 criminal fine and a $1,250,000 community service payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Additionally, they will serve five-year probation terms under environmental compliance plans with monitoring.
Konstantinos Atsalis, the former chief engineer of Kriti Ruby, was sentenced to time served and fined $5,000 after pleading guilty to charges related to concealing pollution by falsifying records. Second engineer Sonny Bosito received a sentence of time served for similar offenses.
“Maritime pollution is extremely harmful to the environment," stated U.S. Attorney Sellinger. "Law protecting our seas exist for a reason."
Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim emphasized that "prioritizing profits over the environment by discharging oily waste into the sea" is illegal.
Rear Admiral Michael E. Platt encouraged reporting suspicious activities onboard vessels directly to the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS).
Court documents revealed that crew members discharged oily waste into the sea using unauthorized methods and failed to record these actions as required. The equipment used for these operations was concealed from inspectors.
Atsalis acknowledged his role in falsifying records and directing crew members in bypassing pollution prevention equipment. Bosito admitted presenting false records during inspections.
The case was investigated by the USCG’s Investigative Service, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Stern and Kathleen P. O’Leary along with other legal professionals from various divisions.